Kenyasi Number Two (BA), Oct. 12, GNA - Newmont Ghana Gold Limited h= as executed projects in 10 communities in Asutifi District of the Brong Ahafo Region, under the Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation (NADEF). Twenty-four out of the 36 projects have been completed whilst work on the remaining ones were steadily progressing. Dr. Kwame Saarah-Mensah, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NADEF, disclosed these at a durbar to officially commission some of the projects a= t Kenyasi Number Two on Tuesday.
He said the projects were estimated at 7.4 million dollars and the amount has been lodged in the NADEF Fund since its establishment in 2008. Dr. Saarah-Mensah said the NADEF was set up by the Newmont Ghana Gold Limited Ahafo Mine to support development projects in the company's catchment communities.
He said the company commits one dollar per ounce of gold it sells and one per cent of its annual net income into the Fund. Dr. Saarah-Mensah said the projects comprise 14-room teachers' quart= ers at Adrobaa, four-unit teachers' quarters and nursery school blocks, a nursery block at Gyedu, six-unit classroom block with office, store, staff common room and library at Kenyasi number two. Others are the construction of a chief's palace, community library, three-unit classroom block with office, store staff common room at Susuanso= , 20-seater water closet toilets at Akyease and Apantuase.
Dr. Saarah-Mensah said at Ntotroso, the mining company has provided mechanized two boreholes, electricity to two schools, sporting equipment to Ntotroso schools, as well as construction of six-unit classroom block with office, store, staff common room and computer library.
He said under the Fund, the Techire community was benefiting from the construction of Polytank stands and mechanization of five boreholes whilst Wamahinso community was also benefiting from the construction of six-unit classroom block with office, store, staff common room and library, as well as the provision of furniture and books and the renovation of the chief's palace.
Dr. Saarah-Mensah said at Yamfo, the company was constructing 14-seate= r water closet toilet, library, and Information Communication Technology Center with conference room.
He said the company supplied furniture, books, computers and accessories and constructed two-unit nurses' quarters. Dr. Saarah-Mensah said that the people of Afrisipakrom have been provided with a borehole, library and chief's palace and the company was supporting the Kenyasi number one community to construct a chief's palace= .. He said under non-infrastructural projects, more than 1,508 students i= n Senior High Schools and various tertiary institutions within the communitie= s were benefiting from the NADEF scholarship fund.
Dr. Saarah-Mensah said that the Foundation had piloted a micro credit facility at Wamahinso, Gyedu and Ntotroso and had assisted 132 businessmen and businesswomen with GHC 40,000. In a speech read for him, Mr. Mike Allen Hammah, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, said that a study indicated that in 2009, gold accounted for more than 97 per cent of Ghana's export earnings, 17 per cent of whic= h was produced by Newmont.
The study also indicated that among others, Newmont's Ahafo operatio= n in Ghana made a contribution of 1.3 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product, nine per cent of export earnings and one per cent of domestic revenue for the country in 2009. "Two other indicators generated by the study come up for mention, ev= ery one dollar injected by Newmont created 3.2 dollars in the Ghanaian economy while each person employed by Newmont also created 28 additional jobs in th= e economy at large", Mr. Hammah said.
Mr Hammah observed that 93by developing the local linkages potential of these as well as other sectors better, the positive developmental impact of Newmont mine would even be greater". He said that the government would continue to formulate and implement proactive policies and strategies to ensure that mining contributed to the success of the 93Better Ghana Agenda".
Mr. Randy Barnes, Regional Vice President, Environment and Social Responsibility of the company, said that since the signing of the Ahafo Social Responsibility Agreement in 2008, NADEF had developed among other corporate foundations in Ghana. He explained that the company's decision to create the Foundation wa= s based on its conviction that creating shared value in the company's host communities would substantially spur the growth of those areas and also be of greater benefit to the larger society.
Mr. Barnes said mining like any other huma n enterprise had its challenges and that there was a continuous effort by mining companies and other stakeholders to ensure that it was an activity that was carried out safely and responsibly.
"Newmont Ghana remains committed to living our value of demonstratin= g leadership in stewardship of the environment and social responsibility by creating opportunities and shared value for our host communities", he stated. Mr. Barnes advised the communities to always choose projects that woul= d benefit the 93generality of our people and children and our children's= ' children in a sustainable way". Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Regional Minister, observed that the contributions of corporate entities to Ghana's development could not be over-emphasized. He commended the company for working hard to help alleviate the plight of the people. "We have enjoyed partnership with Newmont", the Regional Minister stated and expressed optimism that such corporation would be strengthened for mutual benefits. An official Website for NADeF: WWW.nadef.org to showcase the activitie= s of the foundation was launched.
