The Gold Fields Ghana Limited, Tarkwa mine has inaugurated projects totaling GH¢ 2,000.000 for three communities within its catchment area.
The projects which are to aid teaching and learning was funded by the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation.
They include an Early Childhood Development Centre, a 30- seater Information, Communication and Technology centre, a three- unit Junior High School classroom block, two boreholes fitted with hand pumps, and a three unit teachers quarters.
Beneficiary communities include New Atuabo, Badukrom and Wangarakrom.
Mr Alfred Baku, Executive Vice President, Gold Fields Limited, speaking at the inaugural ceremony, said Gold Fields deems corporate social responsibility very high on its agenda, and consider the development of its primary stakeholder communities first.
He said Gold Fields undertook the projects in spite of the challenges mining industries are facing.
Mr Baku mentioned depressed gold price and increasing cost of production as some of the numerous problems confronting the mining industry.
The Executive Vice President noted that 250 acres of oil palm plantation, which has been developed at Awudua and Abekoase, has also been handed over to the Apinto Divisional Council in trust for the Tarkwa mine host communities, which are under the traditional jurisdiction of the council.
He said the foundation added an amount of GH¢ 78,274.27 being proceeds accrued from the oil palm plantation over two year’s management by Gold Fields Ghana to the Apinto council as well.
Mr Baku expressed appreciation to stakeholders for collaborating with the mine over the years in their quest to deliver sustainable development to their host communities.
The Deputy Western Regional Minister, Mr Alfred Ekow Gyan said the region abounds with resources such as cocoa, gold, bauxite, manganese, rubber, coconut, oil palm, timber forest, wildlife and fisheries, and recently natural gas and oil, yet it was under developed in terms of social and economic infrastructure.
He therefore commended Gold Fields, Tarkwa mine for the timely intervention and continuous support to its catchment communities.
Mr Gyan entreated the beneficiary communities to maintain and manage the facilities effectively to ensure that students and the entire the communities benefit from them.
The Municipal Education Director for Tarkwa Nsuaem, Mrs Veronica Ama Jackson, said Gold Fields Ghana over the past years has contributed immensely to the communities in which they operated.
Mrs Jackson on behalf of the communities thanked the company for the kind gesture.
