Perseus Mining launches fund to develop communities in operating area

Nkonya (C/R), Nov.15, GNA - Perseus Mining Ghana Limited (PMCL) on Tuesday launched the “Edikan” community development fund with an initial amount of GH₵750,000 to be used to develop of five communities within its catchment area. The company would give this amount to the communities annually.    The Company also signed a partnership agreement to see to the growth of the communities namely Abenabena, Ayanfuri, Nkonya, Gyaman, Fobinso in the Upper Denkyira West District of the Central Region.   At a ceremony to present the monies to the communities the General Manager of PMGL, Mr. Wayne Nicoletto, said the payment of the money was in fulfilment of a promise made by the Company during an Environmental Protection Agency Public Hearing Forum.    Mr. Nicoletto said despite setting aside GH₵750,000 annually for development projects, Perseus will continue to invest and support the local communities.     He mentioned the construction of two schools and 10-seat aqua privy toilets each in Abenabena and Fobinso, a town water project at Ayanfuri and the repair of boreholes  as some of the projects the Company had undertaken in the area.    On Education, the General Manager said the PMGL have donated text books and a 20-foot container full of books and other educational materials to all the schools in the catchment communities as well as the Senior High Schools in Diaso, Wassa Akropong and Dunkwa-On- Offin.    He said the Company was also providing furniture for the classrooms and staff common room and the Headmaster’s office for the new Ayanfuri Senior High School at a cost of GH₵ 35,240.   It has in addition offered scholarship to 40 young men and women from all the catchment communities to undertake a four- year technical and vocational training at the Kumasi Technical Institute.   The number, he said, had been increased to 50 this year and GH₵94,817 had so far been spent on the beneficiary students.   Mr. Nicoletto said the Company had also instituted a new scholarship scheme for second cycle and tertiary institutions for brilliant children in the local communities.    On employment, he said as of October,  1,468 workers constituting 44.4% of its total workforce have been locally employed.    Nana Ntie Bediako II, Chief of Abenebena who chaired the function commended the management of PMGL for the numerous development projects executed in the area and urged them to continue to honour all agreements reached with the people.    For his part, Nana Prah Agyensaim VI, board chairman of the Company, called for dialogue between the company and the communities on issues that might arise for peaceful co-existence.       GNA ... Read Full Story