Tarkwa (W/R), Sept 18, GNA - Gold Fields Ghana Limited (GFGL) Tarkwa Mine has invested eight billion cedis in community assistance programmes in 2005/5 financial years. The money, which is twice more than what was allocated for community assistance programmes in the last financial year, is to cover 30 projects in catchments communities and Tarkwa.

The first phase of the programme spanning from September to December 2004, comprises 17 projects and would cost 4.8 billion cedis while the second phase, spanning from January to May 2005 would cover 13 projects amounting to 3.2 billion cedis The projects include the construction of teachers' quarters at Samahuu near Tarkwa, rehabilitation of New Atuobo roads, construction of classroom blocks for the Women's Training Institute at Tarkwa and the contribution to Wassa Fiase Traditional Council Education Fund.

Mr Johan Botha, General Manager of GFGL Tarkwa Mine, announced this on Friday at a meeting with the executive sub-committee of the Wassa West District Assembly. The meeting was to serve as a forum to discuss the commitment and the role the assembly could play in sustaining projects that the Mine would undertake for the communities. Mr Botha said every ounce of gold produced, a fraction was put into the Gold Fields Trust Fund (GFTF0), which was used to support development projects.

Explaining the criteria for the selection of projects to be undertaken in the communities, Mr Stephen Yirenkyi, Public Relations and Community Affairs Manager of GFGL Tarkwa Mine said a series of consultative meetings were held between communities and the Mine to prioritise the needs of the communities

Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Ayensu, Wassa West District Chief Executive said surface mining was a blessing to catchments communities in the district, considering many projects that mining companies had provided in such communities. Mr Ayensu mentioned some of the projects, which the assembly had embarked upon as renovation of District Council Primary School at Simpa and Petepom, Tarkwa Central Market and construction of a new ward for Aboso Clinic.

Mr Nicholas Morton, Wassa West District Engineer, Feeder Roads Department said 2.8 billion cedis had been spent on rehabilitation of feeder roads in the district.