Mining company presents exercise books to schools

Etwebo (W/R), Nov 16, GNA - Chirano Mining Company Limited on Friday presented about 13,000 exercise books worth about 15.5 million cedis to basic schools in some communities within its catchment Zone in the Sefwi-Wiawso and Chirano areas of the Western region towards the enhancement of education.

The communities are Twebo, Akoti, Paboase, Chine, Subri and Anyinasie.

Each primary school pupil in these communities will get 10 exercise books while basic school students will get 15 exercise books each.

Making the presentations at separate functions, Mr Ross Arston, Chairman of the company, said the company had instituted scholarship schemes for brilliant but poor children in the area to enable them to develop their potential.

Mr Arston said the company would develop a linkage between schools in the area and a school in Porth, Australia to enhance the scholarship scheme adding that this and the presentation of the exercise books formed part of efforts aimed at promoting education in the area.

Another component of the scholarship, he said, involved the holding of extra classes for the JSS students in the area to enhance their performances.

On the operations of the company, Mr Arston expressed the hope that it would get its final permit to commence operations early next year.

He gave the assurance that when the project took off, the living conditions of the people in the area would be improved.

Mrs Benedicta Naana Biney, the Sefwi-Wiawso District Director of Education, who received the exercise books on behalf of the schools under the district, expressed her gratitude to the company for supporting education in the area.

She appealed to the company to rehabilitate dilapidated school structures to facilitate teaching and learning in the district.

Mr Stephen Aidoo, assemblyman for Etwebo/Akoti and the head teacher of the Akoti JSS, commended the company for the gesture and said the donation

would enhance academic work.

He also appealed to the company to assist with the construction of teacher's bungalows so that teachers would accept postings to the area.

At Paboase, Nana Frimpong Mnaos Ababio, Paboasehene, thanked the company for its contribution to education in the area adding education was the key to development.

He requested the company to also ensure good health care for the people and to repair roads to facilitate economic activities in the area.

Nana Frimpong Ababio appealed to the government to grant the company permit to commence operations without any further delay.