The Chief of Prestea Himan, Nana Nteboa Pra V, has pledged the unwavering support of traditional authorities for Heath Goldfields, following the unveiling of the company’s five-year Community Development Plan, aimed at transforming host mining communities.
The assurance came during the official launch of the development plan, which outlines a series of major social infrastructure projects, including the construction of a Nursing Training College, a Skills Training Centre and Community Centres for communities within the company’s operational area.
Heath Goldfields operates within the jurisdiction of four divisional chiefs in the Prestea-Bogoso enclave. Describing the initiative as historic, Nana Nteboa Pra V said the scale of the planned investments was unprecedented in the history of Prestea and demonstrated the company’s commitment to improving the welfare of local residents.
According to him, the traditional authorities were fully behind the company’s vision and would work closely with management to ensure the successful implementation of the projects.
“This is our own mine. We will support you because we have every reason to believe that you can deliver on your promises,” the chief stated.
He commended the management of Heath Goldfields for what he described as the remarkable turnaround of the mine within a short period, noting that the leadership structure, largely made up of indigenous Ghanaian professionals, had inspired confidence among community leaders.
“When we look at the hierarchy of the company and the progress made within such a short time, we can assure you that you have our backing as chiefs,” he said.
Nana Nteboa Pra V stressed that the success of the mine would directly benefit the people of Prestea and Bogoso through employment opportunities, business growth and community development initiatives.
“As indigenes, we all have a stake in the success of this mine because its success will ultimately translate into development for our people,” he added.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Prestea Huni-Valley, Mr. Matthew Ayeh, also welcomed the development plan, describing it as a dream come true for the municipality.
He observed that although mining communities often bear the environmental and social impacts of mining activities, they do not always receive commensurate benefits from the exploitation of their natural resources.
Mr. Ayeh noted that such situations often fuel dissatisfaction, agitations and tensions between mining companies and host communities.
According to him, despite Prestea’s long history as one of Ghana’s leading mining towns, there was little visible evidence of the wealth generated from mining operations in the area.
“As host communities, we have always been at the receiving end of the negative effects of mining. When communities do not see tangible benefits from the resources being extracted from their lands, it becomes a source of concern and frustration,” he said.
The MCE expressed optimism that the implementation of the five-year Community Development Plan would help bridge that gap by delivering critical infrastructure and improving living conditions in the affected communities.
He, therefore, commended Heath Goldfields for taking a deliberate step towards ensuring that mining benefits are translated into meaningful and sustainable development for the people of Prestea, Bogoso and surrounding communities.
