Abosso Gold Field Limited (AGL), through the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation (GFGF), has presented educational materials worth GH¢258,750 to the Ghana Education Service (GES) Directorate at Prestea-Huni Valley Municipality in the Western Region.
The items include 900 mono-desks to 14 host communities of Abosso Gold Fields; six desktop computers; two multi -function printers, and a set of furniture for the Municipal GES office. The presentation is aimed at providing conducive teaching and learning environment for teachers and pupils in the operational area.
Abdel Razak Yakubu, Manager, Community and Stakeholder Engagement (CASE), Abosso Goldfields Limited (AGL), at the presentation said the Damang Mine is committed to promoting education in its host communities.
He also said AGL is desirous of helping GES to develop and implement programmes aimed at alleviating challenges facing the sector. “This is in recognition of the sacrifices teachers put into their jobs, and we want to reduce their plight,” he added.
Mr. Yakubu revealed that since the establishment of GFGF in 2002, about GH¢21.9million has been invested in educational projects and programmes in host communities of the Damang Mine.
For 2021, he said, the foundation will invest GH¢12.6million in education, agriculture, water and sanitation. as well as infrastructure development in the communities. Education, he pointed out, constitutes about GH¢5 million – which is almost 40 percent of total planned investment.
According to him, the educational programmes are showing positive signs; and he assured that good and excellent students stand a chance of gaining jobs with the mine.
Vida Kwoffie, Prestea Huni Valley Municipal Director of Education, noted that Gold Fields has always supported the educational sector in the area – and this is well-appreciated. “They have also supported health and sanitation programmes in schools for good and healthy lifestyles,” she said.
She believes the computers will improve data collection, boost policy and monitoring programmes, and also achieve excellence in the 14 host communities as well as promote teaching and learning.
Francis Mensah, assembly member for Bompieso, urged the students to take their education seriously and expressed gratitude to AGL for their immense contribution toward development of the people in their operational area.
