Chirano Gold Mine Limited (CGML), a subsidiary of Kinross Gold Corporation, has constructed and handed over teachers’ quarters to Aboduabo M/A Primary School, a farming community in its catchment area.
The facility constructed at the cost of GH¢195,000, made up of five self-contain rooms, is among others meant to contribute to addressing poor teacher-student ratio, and ultimately improve education in the host communities of the Mine.
The Vice President and General Manager of CGML, Terence Watungwa, said the building is a demonstration of Mine’s commitment to being an Outstanding Corporate Citizen. This is because it constantly engages local communities on their needs and challenges, to provide solutions as much as we can.
“We are very hopeful teachers’ quarters will encourage our teachers from the basic school to love this community and stay longer to impart knowledge to our young ones for a brighter future,” he added.
Mr. Watungwa, who was speaking at a brief ceremony to hand over the teachers’ quarters, counselled the pupils to study hard, and take advantage of scholarship opportunities provided by the Mines.
Also, he urged the beneficiary teachers to “take very good care of it as though it were your property. We must maintain this building for it to last and serve the community for a long time,” he added.
The construction of the quarters was facilitated by the Community Consultative Committee (CCC), who appealed to the Mines for teachers’ quarters to mitigate the challenge of teachers who found it difficult to secure accommodation, in host communities.
The headteacher of Aboduabo M/A Primary School, Mr. Oliver Timothy Gyening, noted that accommodation challenges in the community led to many teachers leaving shortly soon after being posted to serve in the community.
The Chairman of the occasion, the Akyempimhene of Sewfi Anhiawso Traditional Area, Sefwi Aboduabo, Nana Amankwah Gyanbour II, also expressed appreciation to CGML for the gesture. He said, in the years gone by, Aboduabo was bereft of a school and after they appealed to Chirano Gold Mine, a school was built for the community.
However, upon the construction of the school, they were faced with another challenge which was poor teacher-student ratio, owing to lack of accommodation for the teachers. It was against this background that an appeal was made to Chirano Gold Mine, which they hurriedly came to the rescue of the school and community.
