Newmont constructing road as birthday gift

The Paramount Queen mother of Akyem Kotuku Traditional Area, Nana Akua Asantewaa III, has cut the sod for the construction of a 2.5 kilometer road from Adausena to New Abirem at the cost of 2.5 million dollars as a birthday present.

The construction is being financed by the Newmont Akyem project as part of the mining company’s development agenda to the affected communities where it operated.

The project, expected to be completed in nine months, is being executed by TOPS Construction limited, a local construction company in the area.

Addressing Chiefs and Assembly members from the mining affected communities and officials of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA), the General Manager of the Newmont Akyem Project, Mr. Kevin Moxham, said the road was being constructed as a birthday present to the Queen Mother, after she was invited by Newmont officials to their headquarters in Durban, USA in May this year.

He said Nana Asantewaa could have requested for money, a 4x4 vehicle or other valuable items, but she asked for the reconstruction of the road, which was in a deplorable condition for the benefit of people in the area.

The Queen mother on her part, urged the Chiefs in the area and the Birim North District Assembly to mobilise resources and undertake development projects to enhance the living standards of the inhabitants.

She also asked the contractor to employ some of the unskilled youth in the area during the construction in an efforts to reduce the frequent demonstrations by them against Newmont for jobs.

The Eastern Regional Maintenance Manager of the Ghana Highway Authority, Mr. Emmanuel Odoi, advised people whose lands were mined for gravels and chippings to sell same at reasonable prices to the contractor, to help complete the project on schedule.

The Managing Director of TOPS Construction Limited, Nana Dr. Tano Thompson, said five youth from the area would be trained in bulldozer operation, excavator, back-hoe and compact operating equipment during the construction of the road and gave the assurance to complete the project on schedule.