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27.07.2012 Business & Finance

Newmont undertakes holistic community development programmes in Akyem

By GNA
Newmont undertakes holistic community development programmes in Akyem
27.07.2012 LISTEN

Koforidua, July 26, GNA - Newmont Golden Ridge Limited (NGRL), in collaboration with its development partners, has implemented a Community Development Programme (CDP) to enhance the livelihood of project impacted households in the New Abirem area.

These projects are in health, water and sanitation, education, security and livelihood programmes, Mr Oduro-Kwarteng Marfo, External Relations Manager of Newmont, to journalists in Koforidua on Thursday.

He said in the area of health, Newmont had built two eight-unit nurses' quarters, a maternity ward, male and female wards and provided a 275 KVA generator to the New Abirem Government Hospital.

A maternity ward has been provided for the Adausena Community Clinic and community members also presented with 3,289 insecticide treated bed nets to prevent the spread of malaria.

Mr Marfo said 734 community members, through the support of Organization for Livelihood Enhancement Services (OLIVES), had also been educated on the spread and prevention of HIV and AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

Under education, he said some tripartite projects had been undertaken by Newmont in collaboration with the Birim North District Assembly and the communities within the project area.

These include the construction and furnishing of a two six-unit classroom block, office, stores and computer laboratory for new Abirem, Afosu and Ntronang communities and the renovation of a four-unit classroom block for Adausena Local Authority Junior High School (JHS).

He said road safety training for students had also been organized for 4,601 pupils from schools within the project area, with Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) drivers being schooled on safe driving techniques.

Mr Marfo said as the project advances, it is expected that there would be influx of people into the project area for various reasons including social vices like prostitution and armed robbery.

He said in view of that Newmont had also donated a Tata Sumo vehicle to the District Police Command to support their night patrol activities and a 14-unit Police Transit Quarters is being built.

He said in addition, Newmont with the support of OLIVES had formed and trained Community Watchdog Committees in the entire nine project impacted communities.

GNA

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