ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI SUPPORTS WANGARAKROM/BADUKROM SCHOOL (PAGE 11)

ANGLOGOLD Ashanti (Iduapriem Mine) Limited has constructed a three-unit classroom block and teachers’ quarters for the Wangarakrom/Badukrom Lower Primary School in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality in the Western Region at the cost of $64,000.
The construction of the infrastructure will save the young pupils from trekking about 15 kilometers to Teberebe to attend school.
Last year, the company invested over $100,000 in education from its social and economic development budget.
The company will also improve the structures of a private Early Childhood Development Centre in Wangarakrom/Badukrom as part of its medium and long term plan.
It also intends to build additional classrooms to raise the status of the Abompuniso Primary School to a junior high school level and construct some teachers’ quarters at Abompuniso and Adieyie, all in the municipality.
At the inaugural ceremony, the Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti (Iduapriem Mine) Limited, Mr David Kwesi Renner, stressed that the importance of education could not be underestimated at this time and age and that development of the child at the lower primary level was crucial for shaping the foundation for which the child could achieve greater heights in future academic pursuits.
“It is for this reason that AngloGold Ashanti is happy to be associated with bringing education nearer to the children within the communities,” he explained.
Mr Renner noted that currently 19 students in senior high schools and technical schools were on the managing director’s scholarship scheme.
Mr Renner said to assist the teeming community youth who were looking for skills to make a living and improve their lives, AngloGold Ashanti had aided nine youths, to master mechanics, hair dressing salons and art workshops to acquire employable skills.
Mr Renner emphasised that participation and ownership were quite important in creating successful community development programmes and therefore implored the community to take ownership of the facility and ensure regular maintenance. The Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Director of Education, Ms Catherine Davies, appealed to the company to provide the school with a kingdergaten.
The Gyaasehene of the Apinto Stool, on whose land the mining company is located, Nana Ntsiful, advised parents to take keen interest in their children’s education.
The Odikro of Wangarakrom, Nana Kingsley Awudu, commended the mining company for undertaking many development projects for communities within its catchment area.
The Assembly Member for the Teberebe Electoral Area, Mr Ernest Amoateng advised parents to enrol their children who had reached school age.