Robert Siaw, Sustainable Development Manager, Gold Fields Ghana Limited has said  that intensive awareness creation on malaria prevention is critical to the health of the individual and the nation’s economy.

Therefore, he said there is the need for sustainable commitment on malaria prevention by individuals, households, churches, mosques, organisations among others to bring it to the barest minimum.

Mr. Siaw was speaking at the 2017 World Malaria Day durbar at Samahu in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality in the Western Region on the theme “End malaria for good”.

He indicated that malaria, has a negative effect on the economy-work output is reduced, income levels becomes low as well as result in poverty since the individual affected by malaria cannot work.

In Ghana, he said and for most parts of Africa, malaria continues to be the number one out-patient department reported illness and it can be deadly.

“If we are going to win the fight against malaria, then we must all change our behavior towards the little things that we do to facilitate the breeding of mosquito – we will continue to work with institutions and civil society groups to reduce malaria incidence in our communities” he said.

He said for three consecutive years, Gold Fields have marked the day with different forms of activities -as part of this durbar, there is going to be malaria quiz competition for schools in our host communities mostly within the Prestea Huni Valley District.

“Gold Fields will give out 750 long lasting Insecticide Treated Nets estimated at a cost of GH¢21,525.00 to community members and some school children” Mr. Siaw mentioned.

He added that prevention is a critical strategy for reducing the toll of malaria- a disease that continues to kill more people, one of the effective and cheaper ways of preventing malaria is sleeping under bed nets each night.

Dr. Ishmael Sackey, Manager Health Services of Gold Fields Ghana Limited said it is possible to eradicate malaria in the country – this can be done by cleaning our environment as well as sleeping in the Insecticide Treated Net.

He mentioned severe headache, jaundice loss of appetite among others as some of the symptoms of malaria -children under age five and pregnant women are mostly affected by malaria.

“I will encourage all to sleep in the net and those who work at night should use mosquito repellant to help prevent malaria” he said.

Curbing a very frustrating illegal mining (Galamsey) battle against Chinese nationals has been inextricably linked to secret recordings by one powerful Chinese woman. She is said to hold video recording of sexual escapades of some politicians with threats of blackmailing. Abdul Malik Kwaku Baaku made the startling revelation on Joy Newsfile.

Kwaku Baako said, “some Chinese ladies secretly recorded their sexual encounters with influential people and in some cases, brought some young Chinese women who slept with the big men and collected evidence which is now being used to blackmail them.”

He (Baako) added that, one Chinese lady, Asia Huang, popularly known as Aisha has been notorious for her illegal mining activities at Bepotenten in the Ashanti Region. Despite the ban, some Chinese nationals were recently caught working with impunity for her

The whole news is sickening because galamsey is labeled as one of the most destructive factors undermining the protection of our green environment, coupled with the contamination of water bodies through the use of chemicals like Mercury to wash the metal.

Over the time period our leaders have been so weak. We have allowed foreigners to exploit our society by assuming positions or power through outright bribery or connections.

The whole sordid has hit Ghanaians all over. We should by now be talking about total eradication of galamsey but sadly Ghanaian watchdogs are caught up in blackmail instead. If the story is true, our leaders have let us down. This is not the first time that the corrupt attitude of our citizenry has hit the headlines.

But the behavior of these alleged ‘big men’ should raise serious concerns over the kind of people we call as authority. It is disgraceful and something has to be done about it. The news of blackmail is total humiliation.

Kwaku Baako isn’t a fringe lunatic talking sex blackmail but a recognized established media personnel. Revealing such disgusting sexual escapades and abuse accusations needs much to be desired.

We are witnessing a serious progressive decline in leadership. Our leaders have heavily indebted our country but we have little to show for it. The poor are poor, marginalized and humiliated therefore; the Chinese galamsey insurgents are taking hold of it.

It is why the Chinese – Aisha, could encroach 35 acres of Volta Resources Limited to extract $1.5 million dollars of gold and it becomes no ones business.

The critical issue brought up by Kwaku Baako and exposure of certain people we find in some privilege positions must be addressed quickly. We need those who can defend the population interest, based on unwavering respect for our state institutions.

The last person we entrust to save Ghana from this sham and disastrous menace is President Nana Akufo Addo. He is presently in a position to perform a service to humanity that others failed.

The Chinese women have achieved their strategic objective behind the crime of prostitution to record vulnerable unzipped purposeless leaders who have given away our future ecology for fear of sexual exposure.

In short, Nana Addo’s war on galamsey is a necessary measure that must be taken before the country plunges completely into laughable failed state taking over by Chinese illegal miners and blackmailers.

Anglogold Ashanti Iduapriem Community Trust Fund has cut the sod for the construction of a GHc600.000 Health Care Center for Wangarakrom and its environs to improve health care delivery.

The project will be executed by Festmens Engineering Construction Limited, a local contractor from May-December this year, will benefit Wangarakrom, Badukrom and Nkyemia communities.

Mr.  Samuel Noi, Acting Managing Director Iduapriem Gold Mine at the sod cutting ceremony at Wangarakrom in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality in the Western Region explained that community members have to travel several kilometers to access basic health care.

“The distance that one needs to travel sometimes by foot due to the bad nature of the roads have several impacts on health care delivery do not help – community members who fall sick fall on traditional medicines, street drug vendor among others with all their associated health implications” he said.

According to him, community members wrote to Anglogold Ashanti Iduapriem Community Trust Fund for support in the construction of a standard facility aimed at improving health care delivery in the catchment area.

He said upon several reviews by the steering committee in consultation with Municipal Health Directorate recommended proposal on the health center for approval by the board of directors.

Prof.  Newton Amegbey, Board Chairman of Iduapriem Community Trust Fund said health care delivery continues to remain paramount world over -this facility, is one of the interventions under the Integrated Health Project, aimed at increasing access to health care delivery in the mine’s host communities.

He said already, the community in collaboration with the Municipal Health Directorate have rented two-bedroom facility in the community to house some health personnel and also serve as Community Health Planning Service Center.

This facility, he explained is basically used for first aid at improving health care delivery in the catchment area – the project is expected to be completed and handed over to the beneficiaries through the Municipal Health Directorate by December 2017” he said.

Mr.  Emmanuel Affelkum, Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Director of Health Services noted that health is important to the development of the community in which the mine operate.

He assured the community that after the project, physicians, nurses and all the human resource needed will be brought to the health center to ensure efficient health care delivery at all times.

Gyasehene of Apinto Stool, Dr. Nana Adarkwa Bediako II commended the mine for supporting in education, health and transport of the communities in which it’s operate.

He encouraged the members of the community to ensure maintenance and sustainability of the project when completed – we must appreciate what the companies operating in our communities are doing and that we should protect the interest of the mine.

He encouraged the mine to support in the tarring of the road leading to the project site to ensure accessibility for community.