By Juliet Aguiar DUGBARTEY, Tarkwa
Gold Fields Ghana Foundation has launched its 20th Anniversary to promote the sustainable and legacy projects for the communities in its operational area at Tarkwa and Damang Mines.
These projects, are in areas such as Education, Infrastructure development, Health, Agriculture as well as Water and Sanitation.
Investment for these Foundation projects, as at January 2024 has hit US$100million.
The Tarkwa and Abosso Mine each contributes 1.5% of pre-tax profits as well as US$1 for each ounce produced.
Also, proceeds from the sale of scrap materials from the two mines are donated to the Foundation.
Abdel Razak Yakubu, Executive Secretary of Gold Fields Ghana Foundation at the Media launch at Tarkwa in the Western Region explained that the mission of the Foundation, is to promote and facilitate sustainable socio-economic development in order to improve the quality of life in Ghana. According to him, the Foundation focuses primarily on the communities around Gold Fields operating mines in Ghana, (Gold Fields Ghana Limited and Abosso Goldfields Limited), particularly those directly affected by mining activities and where the company employees and their dependents live.
He said the Foundation ensures fairness and integrity in all business dealings, and recounted the impact and development it has undertaken in the host communities and prayed for continuous peaceful co-existence.
Nana Dr. Adarkwa Bediako III, Gyasehene of Apinto Divisional Area who gave a background of the Foundation said, “the Foundation was instituted in 2004 formally under Community Affairs Department of the company and currently on its own”.
“For proper accountability and for the role to be defined, as in providing the needs of the people in areas such as education, health, water and sanitation among others” he said.
He noted that the Foundation has fulfilled its purpose of providing infrastructure to the communities such as the Huni Valley Senior High School, Hospitals, Clinics, Apprenticeship and Graduates Training Programme, Doctors and Nurses Accommodation, Scholarship to over 2,000 students within its catchment areas among others.
“We can see massive legacy project such as the construction of the Tarkwa-Damang road, the Tarkwa and Abosso (T&A) Park which cannot be found anywhere in South Saharan Africa when it comes to the work of a foundation” he added
He encouraged the Foundation to continue with the huge project to impact Tarkwa and its environs.
Sulemanu Koney, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines noted that the power of mining industries has transformed lives and businesses in the country “Gold Fields has come far all these years and continues to be a leader, and this should not be taken for granted”.
He pointed out that the Foundation has become giant in the mining industry, a catalyst for change and development.
He commended them for the enormous steps it has taken in corporate social investment especially the Damang road and the construction of T&A Park.
Mr. Koney called for deeper collaboration, cooperation from opinion leaders in their operational area.
“Continue to be the leader in the industry, and show the way for the other mining companies to emulate”, he advised.
Dr. Tony Aubynn, a Trustee of the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation was excited about the development the company has brought to the communities and congratulated them on their 20th Anniversary.
As part of activities for the celebrations, there will be documentary on the Foundation’s interventions in education, skills training and agriculture to be shown on television. Four basic schools from the host communities will compete for the anniversary trophy and bragging rights at Bompieso Community Centre.
Also, there will be billboards showcasing some of the Foundation’s projects to be unveiled in Tarkwa. The handing over of the10,400 seats T&A Stadium.
Dinner and Awards in recognition of stakeholders who have contributed to the success story of the company.
