The Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation (NADeF), corporate social responsibility arm of Newmont Ahafo Mine, has initiated about 13 different projects, valued at GH¢15million across five host communities of its Ahafo North Mine.
The development projects – which cut across education, health, electrification, road, water and sanitation, among others – are located at Yamfo, Afrispakrom, Susuanso, Terchire and Adrobaa in the Tano North Municipality of the Ahafo Region.
Among them is a three-storey multi-purpose E-Block constructed at the cost of GH¢5million for Yamfo College of Health; it is completed and in use. The rest of the projects, which are various stages of completion, include a two-storey administration block at Terchire Senior High School, six-unit classroom block for Roman Catholic Primary School at Afrisipakrom, renovation of Susuanso Market Centre stalls, and construction of culvert across Susuanso-Yamfo road.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of an inspection tour, the Chairman of NADeF Board of Trustees, Prof. Yaw Ofosu-Kusi, said the development initiatives – including social interventions by the foundation – are aligned with the needs of residents in the host communities for inclusive and sustainable community development.
The foundation’s scholarship scheme, he indicated, has over the years served as the backbone for youth development, saying: “Since 2009, NADeF has released GH¢29,639,818 to support 12, 858 youths in ten Newmont Ahafo Mine host communities to pursue tertiary, senior high school and apprenticeship programmes”.
Touching on economic empowerment, the Chairman of NADeF Borad of Trustees said the foundation has since 2011 supported 2,157 small and micro enterprises with micro credit for growth and development. A total of GH¢4,577,060 has been disbursed to the beneficiaries who are largely women in the ten host communities, he added.
He, therefore, appealed to stakeholders of Newmont Ahafo Mine to continue to offer support to the foundation to spearhead sustainable development of the people in the host communities and the country at large.
