A GHC2.5 million CHPS Compound and Nurses Quarters constructed by AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) Obuasi Community Trust Fund has been inaugurated to serve the people of Mammiriwa No. 1, Mammiriwa No. 2, Abaamu and surrounding communities in the Obuasi West Municipality.
The Board Chairman of AGA Obuasi Community Trust Fund, Mr Kwabena Bempong Marfo, said at the inauguration ceremony that the initiative was part of the Trust Fund’s ongoing commitment to enhancing healthcare access and improving the quality of life of the people in the mine’s catchment areas.
He stated that since 2012 the Obuasi Community Trust Fund had made tremendous contributions to the local development of Obuasi and its surrounding communities.
He mentioned the fully furnished maternity block at the Obuasi Government Hospital, two fully furnished KG blocks at Dokyiwa and Binsere, Community Water Systems at Bidieso, Biakoyeden, Wioso, Bidiem, Kokoteasua and other communities, among the major projects.
Mr Bimpong Marfo noted that the establishment of the CHPS Compound and Nurses Quarters would help solve the challenge the people in the Mammiriwa area faced by seeking health care.
He thanked the chiefs and stakeholders for supporting the Trust Fund to achieve its mandate.
The AGA Community Relations Manager, Mr Edmund Oduro Agyei, on his part said the revised agreement the mine had with the government in 2018 made it possible for AGA to contribute two dollars of every once produced and sold to the Trust Fund.
“Since 2019 we have contributed a total of GHC22,787,550.64 to the Obuasi Community Trust Fund towards impactful projects and initiatives in health, water, sanitation and hygiene, education and skills development”, Mr Oduro Agyei added.
Dr Kwadwo Asamoah Nyarko-Jectey, Medical Superintendent of the Obuasi Government Hospital commended all those whose efforts brought the Trust Fund concept, pointing out that since the provision of the new maternity block and equipment at the Obuasi Government Hospital from the Trust Fund, no maternal death had occurred at the facility for the past three years.
He urged stakeholders in the Mammiriwa area, youth, all and sundry to own the facility, patronize it, promote it and protect it. The Obuasi West MCE, Faustilove Appiah Kannin noted that the Mammiriwa CHPS Compound was a clear demonstration of the commitment of the AGA Obuasi Community Trust Fund to improve the lives of the people in the mine’s catchment area.
She urged the management of AGA to encourage their development partners and sub-contractors to prioritize corporate social responsibility initiatives that directly benefit the people of Obuasi.
From Frederick Danso Abeam, Mammiriwa No. 2
