AngloGold Ashanti Iduapirem Mine has commissioned teachers’ quarters and a social center valued GH¢1.2 million for two of its host communities as part of its continued efforts to leave behind a positive footprint in its operational area.
The gesture is also a reminder of AngloGold Ashanti’s commitment in ensuring inclusive and equitable education and promotion of lifelong learning opportunities in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4)
Since it began operations in Tarkwa, AngloGold Ashanti has consistently demonstrated support for improved educational standard through the provision of infrastructure and other teaching and learning materials through its Basic Education Improvement Programme.
It is in furtherance to that commitment, that the Mine constructed the two projects.
The first project, a GH¢669,111 teachers’ quarters at Abompuniso is a two-unit two-bedroom semi-detached and four-unit one-bedroom semi-detached structure.
Commissioning the project, Acting Managing Director of the company Ing. Isaac Boakye Aduenin said the project is to alleviate the plight of teachers who hitherto had to trek long hours to school daily due to the lack of accommodation.
“We believe that with the handing over of this GH¢669,111 teachers’ quarters, there would be a massive improvement in the regularity and punctuality of teachers which would eventually translate into the quality of teaching and learning in the school,” Ing. Boakye Aduenin said.
“I am confident that this heightened quality of life that the teachers will now bring to the classroom would be felt directly by their students and we would be seeing massive improvement in the school’s academic performance.”
The second project, a 300-capacity social center is valued at GH¢445,812 and located at the Timber Road Community.
It has offices, a large theater and ancillary sanitary facilities.
Part of the facility will also be utilized as a CHPS compound.
The two projects were funded by the AngloGold Ashanti Iduapirem Community Trust Fund.
A member of the Community Trust Fund and Gyaasehene of Apinto Stool, Nana Dr. Adarkwa Bediako III, said he is particularly happy that the social center will help with the health needs of the community.
“We have also supplied 300 chairs to facilitate the use in this facility. I am particularly happy that beyond serving as a facility for recreation by community members, a venue for community meeting to discuss issues on community development and an income generating avenue to support other basic community development needs, it will also help meet the healthcare needs of the people in this community and its immediate environs.”
Tarkwa Municipal Director of Education Alex Kwaku Duah applauded the mining company for the continuous demonstration of goodwill to host communities.
The chiefs and people of the two beneficiary communities prayed for financial fortitude for the company to enable it to continue coming to their aid.
The AngloGold Ashanti Iduapirem Community Trust Fund, since its inception in 2013, has supported communities nestling around the Mine with projects aimed at increasing access to basic education, improving health care needs, water, sanitation and other social amenities to make a positive difference.
By Eric Yaw Adjei|3news.com|Ghana