Abekoase(W/R), April 21, GNA - Management of Gold Fields Ghana Limited (GFGL) has spent about 65 billion cedis on development projects for communities within its two mining concessions at Tarkwa and Damang in the Wassa West District since 2002.

Mr Alan Ashworth, Managing Director of the company announced this when inaugurating 12 development projects estimated at five billion cedis for communities within its Tarkwa Mining concession at Abekoase on Thursday.

The projects that formed part of phase one of the 2006 financial year's projects included tarring of a section of New Atuabo access road, construction of five wells, construction of Early Childhood Development Centre (ECDC) for Tebe/Abekoase and Huniso.

The rest were, construction of Teachers' quarters at Pepesa and Tebe/Abekoase and fencing of Teachers' quarters at Samahuu. Mr Ashworth also presented a cheque for 223 million cedis towards scholarship awards for the first 54 beneficiaries of Gold Fields Ghana Foundation Scholarship to Madam Catherine Davies, Wassa West District Director of Education during the inauguration.

He said activities of GFGL were not only gold production to make profit but focused on how mining activities could improve the standard of living of the people within its operational area.

The Managing Director explained that Goldfields Foundation was an avenue for the company to raise funds to promote and facilitate sustainable economic development and in addition; improve quality of life of the people who live within its operational area. He explained that the Foundation would concentrate on development projects, areas of alternative livelihood, health, education and infrastructure towards sustainable community development. Mr Ashworth announced that more institutions, companies and business partners whose vision about human society and the need for business to impact positively on communities were in line with the company were collaborating with GFGL on its sustainable development programmes.

He said some of the companies were, Caterpillar Global Mining (CAT), Tractor & Equipment (T&E) and Shell Ghana Limited, adding, "The construction of ECDC block at Abekoase/Tebe was a collaborative effort between the Foundation, CAT and T&E which contributed 230 million cedis each towards the project."

"Management of Shell Ghana Limited also contributed 190 million cedis towards the Foundation's Scholarship scheme," Mr Ashworth added. Madam Davies expressed appreciation to the company for the scholarship award and being the leading partner in provision of quality education in the district.

She said, the company in addition to the construction of school blocks and boreholes, it trained School Management Committees in the communities to enhance education and encouraged the posting of qualified teachers to the area and increased enrolment in schools.

Osagyefo Kwamina Enimil VI, Paramount Chief of Wassa Fiase Traditional Area, said the company's gesture would deepen relationship between it and the communities.

He advised the beneficiary students of the scholarship award to study hard to justify the merit upon which they were selected. Osagyefo Enimil appealed to other mining companies to partner management of Ghana Railways Corporation to improve the railway system in the country.