18 To manage minerals fund for development

The Minerals Development Fund (MDF), in collaboration with the Obuasi East and Akrofuom districts, have set up an 18-member Local Management Committee (LMC) to oversee the effective utilisation of the fund for the overall development of Obuasi.

The membership consists of nine each for Obuasi and Akrofuom, respectively, and they are to ensure the better management of a seed money of GH¢ 500,000 each.

The fund was set up to facilitate and enhance the developmental activities in deprived mining communities that have been negatively impacted by such activities.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Obuasi East, Mr Patrick Boakye-Yiadom, who represented the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, urged members of the committee to work hard in assisting government to transform such mining towns.

“I strongly advise that you carefully make the funds available for its intended purposes because you will be accountable for it,” he charged them.

The MP announced that a monitoring team would be set up to supervise the work of the committee and promote accountability.

Mr Boakye-Yiadom said the effective utilisation of the fund would warrant more money to be released for specific projects.

But, he warned that any attempt to divert or misuse the seed money would be dealt with according to law.

The board Chairperson of the Minerals Development Fund, Madam Esther H. Edjeani, said the objective for setting up the fund was to promote socio-economic development in such areas.

She called for transparency in the administration by focusing more on what the residents really need.

"We believe that together we will succeed in our efforts to support initiatives and interventions aimed at improving the living conditions of mining communities,” she said.

The District Chief Executive for Obuasi East, Mrs Faustina Ammisah, who also doubles as a member of the committee, pledged the committee's support and eagerness to help achieve the purpose for which the fund was set up.