Asante Gold Chirano Limited (AGCL) has reaffirmed its commitment to human rights by ensuring that access to clean, potable water is not just a privilege but a fundamental right in catchment communities.
This commitment was highlighted during the commissioning of a small-town water system at New Obrayeko in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso Bekwai municipality of Western North Region.
Speaking at the project’s commissioning, General Manager-AGCL Stephen Asante Yamoah stressed the company’s conviction that water is not just a necessity but a right which should be guaranteed to every individual.
“At Asante Gold Chirano Limited, we believe that access to clean, potable water is not just a necessity but a fundamental human right,” he stated.
He said AGCL’s initiatives in New Obrayeko go beyond the provision of water. The company’s collaborative approach with the community has led to realising various other projects aimed at enhancing quality of life.
Fencing the Obrayeko Basic School and ongoing refurbishment of a 20-seat modern KVIP, he said, are just a few examples of how AGCL is investing in the community’s future.
Additionally, he said, the company has started work on the New Obrayeko Basic School Park, which will provide a much-needed space for the youth and other community members to engage in healthy activities and strengthen community bonds.
Mr. Yamoah called on the community to continue working together with the company to achieve shared goals.
“Our efforts at AGCL are driven by a deep sense of responsibility toward the communities that host us. Let us preserve the peace and good relations through dialogue, consultation and effective communication rather than resorting to issuing threats and serving notices of demonstration in seeking responses to our requests,” he urged.
The Chairman-Community Consultative Committee – a body composed of local community leaders, government agencies and other relevant stakeholders – commended Asante Gold Chirano for its provision of water and other essential amenities to the catchment communities.
He recognised the company’s efforts to uplift the people’s living conditions and urged AGCL to expedite action on other community requests.
The Chairman also called on community members to rely on dialogue rather than threats of demonstrations when engaging with the company, emphasising that cooperation and communication are key to achieving shared goals.
The Assembly member of the area, Frederick Agyei, said the new water system will directly improve the health and well-being of New Obrayeko’s residents by providing consistent and safe water access to every household. For many in the community, he noted, this marks a significant improvement in their daily lives.
“We no longer have to worry about water shortages or the quality of water we use. This system has truly changed our lives for the better,” he said.
