Newmont Ghana’s Akyem Mine has donated GH¢166,000 worth of medical supplies to the New Abirem Government Hospital and Birim Central Municipal Health Directorate to support COVID-19 relief efforts in the mine’s host communities and region.
The donation included Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), personal hygiene items, and hospital equipment and consumables. The company also supplied the New Abirem Government Hospital with building materials worth GH¢28,500 toward construction of an Isolation Unit at the facility.
At a ceremony to present the items, General Manager of Newmont Ghana’s Akyem Mine, Joshua Mortoti, stated that the company is committed to supporting public health institutions to be better-positioned to manage effects of the virus in the mine’s catchment area.
“As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to evolve within the country, we recognise the critical need for these interventions in our communities to stem spread of the virus,” Mr. Mortoti said.
“At Newmont Ghana, nothing is more important than health and safety of our people and host communities. It is our hope that our contribution will go a long way to facilitate the work of our frontline workers in fighting COVID-19 within our host communities,” he added.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the Birim Central Municipal Health Directorate, the Municipal Director for Health Services, James Avoka said: “Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, the Ghana Health Service has been working tirelessly to prevent and control spread of the virus with limited resources. This therefore comes as a timely response to the Directorate’s request for PPE and other medical supplies to benefit hospitals and clinics across our municipality”.
Thanking Newmont Ghana for its continued support to the Birim North district, District Chief Executive Remond Nana Damptey stated: “This donation adds to Newmont’s previous US$20,000 contribution toward the District Assembly’s efforts. Construction of an Isolation Unit at the New Abirem Government Hospital will only enhance our preparedness and response capabilities within the district”.
In April, Newmont Ghana donated a US$100,000 support package toward Ghana’s public health efforts in controlling transmission of COVID-19 in the country. This supported the Noguchi Health and Medical Research Centre in Accra and Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine with US$25,000 each toward the procurement of test kits.
The Asutifi North and Birim North District Assemblies also received US$20,000 each, and the Tano North Municipal Assembly received US$10,000 to support preventive measures in and around Newmont’s Ahafo and Akyem Mines and its Ahafo North Project area.
Beyond these efforts, Newmont has announced the establishment of a US$20million global fund to help host communities, governments and employees around the world combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company said it will continue partnering with the government, public health institutions and other organisations to implement further interventions that help prevent the spread and manage impacts from COVID-19.
