Kumasi, Sept 11, GNA - The AngloGold Ashanti paid over 87 billion cedis to various stakeholders and communities within its catchments area and this amounted to three per cent of its gross earnings last year. The company also spent 640,000 dollars on some communities in the provision of schools, water, electricity and other facilities.

Mr Daniel Owiredu, Chief Operating Officer of the AngloGold Ashanti (West Africa), said this at the centenary and Presidential Ball of the Kumasi branch of the Rotary Club of Kumasi on Saturday. He said the company, within the same period, paid 47 billion cedis dividend to the government and additional sums to Ghanaian shareholders and institutions.

''The company is the single most important private sector corporate body that employs nearly 9,000 people in Ghana and that has reduced the unemployment problem in the country.''

He told the Rotarians ''as a body of eminent qualified professionals from all key disciplines, you are best qualified to make a decisive impact on the absolute need to attack the woeful maintenance culture of the country.''

Mr Owiredu urged them to initiate more development projects for communities to help alleviate poverty, diseases and improve the living conditions of the people.

He pledged the commitment of the AngloGold Ashanti to support them finance more developmental projects to help attain its aims and objectives.

Mr Kofi Addo, the outgoing President of the Club, said last year the club, with the support of the Rotary Club of Denmark, presented some computers and accessories to the Akrokerri Teacher Training College and also provided Kumasi Girls Secondary School with hand pump for water at the cost of 50 million cedis.

Mr R.A. Ofosu-Adoo, President of the Club, said the club has planned some projects and these include the eradication of polio, the continuation of the children's playground and library project in Kumasi and disinfestations of Prison and Police cells in Kumasi. He appealed to individuals, churches and non-governmental organizations to support the club financially to enable it execute its programmes. 11 Sept 05