The First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo has commissioned 2019 corporate social responsibility projects initiated by Gold Fields Ghana in the Tarkwa-Nuaem and Prestea-Huni Valley Municipalities of the Western Region.
The projects include the Akoon Park, Nana Angu-UMAT road rehabilitation, Brahabobom MA school library, Toilet for Kyekyewere AME Zion Basic School and the Huni Valley Health Centre.
The eleven projects valued at over ¢8 million were funded through the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation.
The Gold Fields Ghana Foundation was established to promote and facilitate sustainable socio-economic development activities of the company.
The aim is to improve on the quality of lives of people in its operational areas and Ghanaians in general.
Since 2005, Gold Fields has contributed immensely in the area of Education, Health, Water and Sanitation, Infrastructure, Agriculture and Sports.
In her address at a durbar of Chiefs and people of Huni-Valley, the First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo commended Gold Fields for living up to their corporate social responsibilities.
The First Lady, Mrs Akufo-Addo herself a committed and passionate champion for the health of Ghanaians especially that of women and children was particularly happy about the refurbished Huni-Valley Health Center.
“Considering the importance of this facility to the thousands of people living in the municipality, it is only appropriate for it to be upgraded and equipped with modern facilities to better serve our people, especially women and children,” she noted.
The Huni-Valley Health Center previously had only six beds but now upgraded to a twenty-six bed facility, equipped with a child health care center and two consulting rooms for doctors.
Mrs Akufo-Addo commended Gold Fields Ghana for contributing to improvement in the health and maternal care of the people, emphasising that, “whilst social responsibility helps improve an organisation’s image and gives them the social license to operate, it enhances the livelihoods of host communities. That is how powerful and vital, Corporate Social Responsibility can be”.
She said companies should care about the wellbeing of the communities in which they operate, adding that, national development does not rest with the government alone.
She also lauded the company for its investment in education, health, water and sanitation as well as livelihood enhancement programmes in host communities.
Taking newsmen on an inspection tour of some the project sites, the Executive Vice President and Head of Gold Fields West Africa, Mr Alfred Baku mentioned that all the projects were embarked on after a thorough needs assessment with the chiefs and people of beneficiary communities and therefore believed that they will go a long way towards improving on their lives.
Mr Baku reiterated that the Gold Fields Foundation is bent on changing the sustainable development agenda in the country through it investments.
Touching on some of the projects, he mentioned the rehabilitation of the Nana Angu-UMaT road which has provided an alternative route for motorists in Tarkwa.
He said, “the 2.4 kilometer road, which was previously dusty and inaccessible has eased traffic on the main Tarkwa highway and the town center, while the Akoon park, first constructed by the State Gold Mining Corporation (SGMC) in the 1970s and used to be the only venue for recreational activities for the Akoon community.”
“The park, after the rehabilitation, now has a standard fit -for-all purpose pitch, a redesigned change room, VIP seating and ticketing booth and serves as the home grounds of two premier league clubs.”
The Executive Vice President and Head of Gold Fields West Africa said since its establishment in 2005, the Gold Fields Foundation has invested over US$66.5 million in infrastructural development and livelihood enhancement programmes in host communities.
“Nananom, I’m appealing to you and your people to ensure regular maintenance of the projects and use them to achieve their intended purposes,” he said.
Mrs Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, MP for Prestea Huni-Valley who is also the Minister of Tourism, Creative Arts and Culture and the MP for Tarkwa Nsuem, Mr George Mireku Duker as well as the Chiefs and people of the area lauded the company for their immense support and contribution.
Story filed by Marie Aziz Tunde.
GBC-Sekondi
