The Gold Fields Ghana Foundation has commissioned four (4) infrastructural projects in its host communities.
These projects are a Maternity Block at Aboso, a Community Centre in Bompieso, Doctors’ and Nurses’ Quarters for the Huni Valley Health Centre and 1.7km of tarred town roads in Damang all in the Prestea-Huni Valley Municipality of the Western Region.
The occasion also marked a milestone for the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation as an investment into their corporate social responsibility crossed the $100 million mark since its inception.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony of these projects to the communities, the Executive Vice President and Head of Gold Fields, West Africa, Ing. Joshua Mortoti indicated that to boost local content all the projects were executed by local contractors and commended for doing a great job.
He further indicated these three projects amount to $1.35 million The Foundation’s investment covers several areas under education, water and sanitation, health, agriculture and infrastructure: including training, scholarships and enterprise development. And to give further impetus to their commitment to sustainable development, the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation will soon launch its five-year strategic development plan.
He said, “To ensure we carry our support further, taking it to another level, in 2023 Gold Fields commissioned a baseline needs assessment of the Tarkwa Nsuaem and Prestea Huni Valley Municipalities.”
“The objective of the study was to identify a legacy project that would tie into our purpose of creating enduring value beyond mining. The study recommended expanded access to quality health care. We call this our Legacy Programme. I believe that many of the stakeholders here today may have already made input into this programme. Further engagement around our Legacy Programme will be done throughout 2024.”
Ing. Mortoti emphasised on maintenance of the projects by the communities.
“Maintenance of infrastructural projects, which have been handed over, has been a major challenge for the Foundation.”
“For example, a library funded by the Foundation and presented to the Abosso community about three years ago is in a total state of disrepair. I am told that funerals are organised right outside the library grounds and the library’s washrooms and other facilities are constantly used. Besides this, the area provided for reading in the library is used to host people attending funerals.”
“We are concerned because the facility needs to be used appropriately and maintained properly for sustainable impact. This is just one example of many.”
The Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah at the event appealed to the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation to channel more investment into enterprise development to help build businesses and businessmen.
The Regional Minister also added that the government and the people in the Western Region appreciate what the Foundation is doing when it comes to development.
The Rebecca Foundation, founded by the first lady of Ghana, Rebecca Akufo-Addo also donated an ambulance to the Prestea-Huni Valley Health Centre.
