5 Ahafo communities benefit from Newmont Foundation projects

Members of the Board of Trustees of the Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation (NADeF), have inspected eight different projects in five communities hosting the Newmont Ahafo South Mines in the Ahafo Region.

The projects, which cost the foundation GH¢27.3 million, are being constructed at Kenyasi No.1, Kenyasi No.2, Ntoroso, Gyedu and Wamahinso.

The projects, which are at various stages of completion, include health facilities, educational facilities such as the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) satellite campus, classroom blocks, teachers’ quarters, dormitory blocks, as well as social amenities.

Speaking to journalists after the inspection at Kenyasi last Thursday, the Board Chairperson of the NADeF, Professor Yaw Ofosu-Kusi said the foundation embarked on the projects to enhance development and reduce infrastructure deficit in the communities.

The foundation, set up by Newmont for sustainable development in its operational areas, has also invested in human resources development and economic empowerment of its 10 host communities.

The mining company donates $1 per ounce of gold it produces and one per cent of its annual pre-profit to the foundation to undertake development in its operational areas.

Projects inspection

The foundation’s board inspected the UENR satellite campus at Kenyasi, which is 75 per cent completed.

The Wamahinso Social Centre

The project also includes the upgrading of road and landscaping, pavement walkways, grading of access road, lift and audio-visual installations in the four-storey lecture block.

Additionally, the foundation procured furniture such as desks and tables, cabinets, wardrobes, bed frames and mattresses worth more than GH¢1 million.

It also includes a four-unit pavilion lecture block, lecture halls and washrooms.

At Wamahinso, they also inspected the Wamahinso Medical Centre, which was initiated by the community and the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

The facility is 99 per cent complete. It has ancillary facilities such as children's, delivery, male and female wards, Outpatient Department (OPD) and storerooms.

The foundation is currently constructing a two-storey accommodation to house nurses and other health workers who will be posted to the facility.

In the same community, the board inspected a social centre project which is 85 per cent complete.

It has conference rooms, a restaurant, offices, guest rooms, shops and a gym.

At Gyedu, they inspected a three-storey block constructed for the Gyedu Technical Institute.

The project, which is 45 per cent complete, has classrooms, washrooms, storerooms and a staff common room.

At Ntotroso, they also inspected an eight-unit pavilion classroom, a three-storey dormitory and two-bedroom staff quarters at the Twereku Ampem Senior High School (SHS) and a three-storey boys' hostel at the Ntotroso Nursing and Midwifery College.

Industrial projects

Prof. Ofosu-Kusi said the foundation was set to implement cross-community projects, as well as industrial projects in the host communities.

The University of Energy and Natural Resources satellite campus at Kenyasi

He explained that the cross-community project aimed to create employment for the teeming youth.

Prof. Ofosu-Kusi said he was impressed with the work executed by the contractors so far.

He said the foundation's primary responsibility was to help provide infrastructure in the company's host communities, explaining that it was their mandate to facilitate development in the communities.

Prof. Ofosu-Kusi said the projects were executed based on the needs and requests made by the communities.

Timely completion

He explained that NADeF was working to ensure the timely completion of the projects to bring relief to members of the host communities.

"We can assure the communities that all the initiated projects will be completed on time. None of our projects will be abandoned," he said.

On the UENR satellite campus facility, he said after inspecting the facility, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) recommended that the university completed some facilities before starting operation.

He said the foundation was currently addressing issues raised by the university and GTEC to facilitate its operation.

Writer's email: biiya.ali@graphic.com.gh