Mensin Gold Bibiani Limited has vowed to ensure that it manages its business in a manner which enables it to contribute to sustainable development in the local communities where it operates.

At a sod-cutting ceremony to begin the renovation of the Old Town Primary School in Bibiani Zongo, the company intimated it was working through the Resolute Foundation Advisory Panel (RFAP) to implement its development policies and programs that would inure to the benefit of the local people

Western North Regional Minister, Kingsley Aboagye Gyedu, commended Mensin Gold (and the RFAP) for the tremendous contributions it continues to make towards education although the Company is operating under Care and Maintenance.

He said he was extremely happy because in September, 2019, when he was the special guest of honour at a similar ceremony, 35 brilliant but needy tertiary students were awarded Education Financial assistance at the cost of GHS 104,748.00.

He took the opportunity to inform the chiefs and people that the sod-cutting ceremony coincides with another sod-cutting to begin the construction of Offices and Bungalows of the Western North Regional Education Directorate.

“Discussions are far advanced with management of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, to set up a campus of the University in Bibiani so that students, artisans and other interested persons will take advantage of the University’s short courses into skills training and career advancement in the extractive industry,” he added.

The Minister was particularly happy with the level of local participation in the award of contracts for the various jobs undertaken by the RFAP when the Municipal Chief Executive briefed him that most of the contractors for community projects and even for mine-wide works were local contractors.

The Chairman of the Education Committee of the RFAP, Mr. Johnson Ben Oduro, spoke on the strides made by the RFAP towards Education in the local communities in which Mensin Gold operates. He recounted that, in addition to the renovation which is about to commence, the RFAP in this year had organized inter school quiz and debate competitions, distributed educational materials including laptop computers to students and the education directorate, distributed sporting equipment to schools, undertaken medical screening exercises to school children and awarded education financial assistance to brilliant but needy tertiary students.

He, however, urged the education directorate to take good care of the assistance given by the RFAP towards education in the communities and further emphasized that parents should continuously encourage their school children to take their education very seriously in order to better their lives and society in general.

The chiefs and people of Old Town and Zongo communities expressed their happiness to Mensin Gold for the gesture. According to the Chiefs, the school had to close down because of its deplorable nature that is endangering the lives of the school children and teachers. This compelled parents to withdraw their children and teachers to take voluntary transfers away from the school. They pledged their support for the company in conducting its business.

The RFAP, in realising its ambition, focuses its efforts where it can make a difference under five community development pillars comprising Accountability, Income Generation Activities, Water and Sanitation, Education and Community Health by making use of the inherent strengths, skills and capacities of the Company, partner organisations, host governments and the local people.

Mensin Gold through the Resolute Foundation delivers significant benefits to the local communities to enhance its reputation as a bold, innovative and most importantly, responsible company.

The RFAP, in furtherance of its Education pillar, is providing funding to renovate the Old Town Primary School which is currently in a very deplorable condition after it received a request in that regard from the chiefs and people of Old Town and Zongo communities. The School in its dilapidated condition is a 6-Unit Classroom Block with Office and Store that accommodates about 120 school children.

The Resolute Foundation Advisory Panel (RFAP) is the vehicle through which Mensin Gold delivers sustainable development initiatives and, in doing so, create a legacy in the communities.

The ceremony organized by the RFAP was attended by the chiefs and people of Old Town and Zongo communities. Some Officers from the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipal Assembly and the Hon. Regional Minister of the Western North Region with his entourage were also in attendance.