AngloGold Ashanti has donated bags of rice, assorted drinks, chicken and an amount of money to the Obuasi Prisons, Research Utilization School of the Deaf, Patmos Orphanage and Adullam Orphanage, all in the Obuasi Municipality. The items which cost the Mine over GHC10000 were given to the various groups as part of the Mines Corporate social responsibility.
The Sustainability Manager of the Mine, Nana Ampofo Bekoe said Christmas is a time of giving and this was the mine’s way of showing love to them.
The presentation started from the Research Utilization School of the Deaf where the Mine had earlier made a presentation in September this year. Robert Doe, the CEO of Bob Doe Constructions, who carried out some renovation works at the school when he was called upon by AngloGold Ashanti to assist the school was also present. The Obuasi Mine also promised to further give the school a face-lift in the coming year.
The school in return thanked the Mine for the kind gesture and sought God’s blessings upon them. They said due to lack of food, the school vacated earlier than other basic schools but they believed the food items and money given them can sustain the school for some time.
Patmos Orphanage
At Patmos Orphanage in Tewobaabi in Adansi Asokwa, another set of food items and an unspecified amount of money were also given to them. Madam Akua Mmrah, the founder of the center received the items on the Orphanage’s behalf and thanked the mine for their benevolence to the center every year. She also took the opportunity to ask for support from other philanthropist to help her finish the construction of a dormitory for the younger kids in the center.
Obuasi Prisons and Adullam Orphanage
The same sets of items earlier on delivered to Patmos Ophanage were also donated to the Obuasi Prisons and the Adullam orphanage. Leadership of the two organizations again thanked the mine for the donations.
Overview of 2016
AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine, has had a difficult year. The redrawal of the military from AGA’s concession earlier this year gave way for illegal miners to invade the underground sections of the Mine and caused a lot of damage to the underground structures of the Mine.
The Mine again lost its Corporate Affairs Manager, John Owusu, in February this year during an encounter with the illegal miners. Aside the Mine’s issues with illegal Miners, they thought the Government of Ghana wasn’t doing enough to protect the interest of the internationally recognized company and thereby dragged the Government before Arbitration.
Contributions to society
Despite all these, the Mine has committed to easing the burden of residents in its catchment areas.
The Mine as part of its commitment to the people of Obuasi and its environs donated several medical equipment to the Obuasi Government Hospital with support from Project Cure, a US based health delivery Non- Governmental Organization (NGO),which will go a long way to improve the health services of the Municipal Obuasi Hospital which is a referral center for most close towns.
AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Community Trust Fund also commissioned various projects in Obuasi and its environs. The projects which cost GHc326,328.03 were commissioned on Thursday, 19th May, 2016 as part of the stability agreement between the Mining company and the Government of Ghana.
The projects included:
| Beneficiary/Location | Type of Facility | Amount (GHc) |
| Akrofuom SHTS | 5 unit toilet and bathroom facility | 75,265.55 |
| Akrofuom SHTS | Drilled and Mechanized borehole with overhead tank | 41,183.57 |
| Anyankyirem | Drilled and Mechanized borehole with overhead tank | 39,888.17 |
| Bekwai Palace | Drilled and Mechanized borehole with overhead tank | 39,449.59 |
| Brahabebome | Drilled and Mechanized borehole with overhead tank | 43,729.94 |
| CKC SHS | Drilled and Mechanized borehole with overhead tank | 46,331.27 |
| Odumasi | Drilled and Mechanized borehole with overhead tank | 40,479.94 |
| TOTAL | 326,328.03 |
The Mine also organized an Inter Basic schools quiz competition for Obuasi schools. All participating students and schools were given school bags, books, pens and pencils. The winners received award plagues and dictionaries in addition to their books, school bags, pens and pencils. All the 36 contestants in both the primary and JHS divisions received certificates of participation jointly signed by AngloGold Ashanti and the Municipal Director of Education.