Samahu (W/R) Oct 10, GNA - Mr. Mubashir Dari, Community Affairs and Public Relation Manager for Gold Field Ghana Limited, Tarkwa mine, has said lack of skilled labour had been a major factor in the low number of community members engaged in the mine.

He said in order to eliminate this difficulty GFGL, through its Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, had spent over 3.2 million dollars on education since the inception of the foundation in 2002. Mr. Dari said majority of that amount was invested in education infrastructure, adding that he company's focus was on improving the quality of education in the communities they operate in. He said this when the company distributed educational materials to selected schools in Tarkwa Nsueam Municipality and Prestea Huni/Valley District.

Mr. Dari said Kindergarten and Primary One pupils would be the sole beneficiaries. He said 1,240 school bags, 7,293 exercise books and 7,540 pencils valued 20,800 Ghana cedis were distributed to the children. Mr. Dari expressed the hope that the presentation of such educational materials would enhance teaching and learning.