AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) Obuasi Mine has handed over a 20-seat toilet facility worth GH₵630,000 to residents of Anyimadukrom and pupils of the Kwabrafoso cluster of schools in the Obuasi East district of the Ashanti Region.
The facility has a biogas digester, two toilet facilities for disabled, two shower-rooms, six hand washing basins and 18 water-closets for both males and females – including one water tank to supply water for the facility at all times.
This facility is part of efforts by AGA to help improve sanitary conditions in Obuasi and its environs under their 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP).
The 10-year SEDP is the culmination of consultations with community members, helping to identify their various needs and aspirations. Through this, AGA has formulated them into a long-term plan, with improving sanitation and hygiene as one of the key areas.
Speaking to journalists after the handing-over ceremony with leadership of Anyimadukrom, Senior Manager Sustainability, Emmanuel Baidoo, was optimistic that the facility will help address insanitary conditions in Obuasi.
He further expressed AGA’s readiness and commitment to support sanitation activities in Obuasi.
“Environmental stewardship is quite critical for us. Water and sanitation are very important components of environmental stewardship. So we believe that by providing this facility, all the adverse impacts associated with lack of sanitary or toilet facilities in our communities will definitely be addressed. We are very optimistic that this will definitely improve environmental cleanliness and improve the people’s health and wellbeing,” Mr. Baidoo said.
Stakeholder Engagement Superintendent-AGA Obuasi Mine, Edmund Oduro-Agyei, for his part appealed to leadership of the Anyimadukrom community and residents to ensure they adopt good maintenance practices and make the facility last long.
Additionally, Mr. Oduro Agyei called on the people of Obuasi to support AGA in its endeavours so as to boost their activities. And by doing so, AGA will be able to bring more developmental projects to the Obuasi community.
Representative of the Queen mother of Akrokerri, Nana Takyi Mensah, expressed appreciation for the kind gesture. He however cautioned the District Chief Executive Officer and assembly members not to politicise this gesture, but rather form a committee with the traditional authorities to find permanent staff to take proper care of the facility.
Assembly Member for Anyimadurkom, which is home to the facility, Lamin Yakubu assured AGA that he will do everything in his power to ensure the facility is cared for properly, so it will serve the community for a very long time.
