Management of the Ahafo Mine of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) at Kenyasi in Asutifi North District has presented two pick-up vehicles to a group of farmers in its mine-take area in Brong-Ahafo Region.

The vehicles valued at millions of dollars are to assist the members of the Asutifi Processing and Services Center (APSC), to transport their produce from the various farm gates to the center for processing.

They are made up of farmers drawn from Kenyasi number one, Kenyasi number two, Ntotroso, Gyedu, Wamahinso, Hwidiem, Nkasiem and Nkrankrom.

Mr Kwame Agbeko Azumah, Communications Manager of Newmont Ahafo Mine, explained that aside its core business of mining, the company was also poised in ensuring that the plight of the farmers directly or indirectly affected by the mine was alleviated.

He advised the center to ensure regular maintenance of the vehicles and asked them to use the ford ranger vehicles for the benefit of all the farmers. The APSC is a joint NGGL and German Development Cooperation (GIZ) initiative aimed at adding value to agricultural produce in the district, Mr Azumah explained.

“The initiative which follows a preliminary NGGL effort to increase farmer productivity over the years has evolved to the point where more than 80 Farmer Based Organisations with 70 percent women are benefiting from processing of their produce into finished goods,” he said.

Mr Azumah said the mining company was contributing about 344,000 dollars to the programme with GIZ supporting with additional 270,000 dollars. Mr Joseph Adu-Yeboah, Chairman of the APSC thanked the donors and pledged on behalf of the beneficiaries to take proper care of them.

Mrs Elizabeth Opoku Darko, Community Development Superintendent of the Ahafo Mine, said the center processed chili pepper and ginger and would soon processed maize and soya beans.

She said the center would help reduce post-harvest losses in the crops, which stood between 15 percent and 26 percent respectively in the area.