The Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti Ghana Ltd. Mr. Eric Asubonteng has made it known to stakeholders that the initiatives and interventions in the Company’s 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) are not just a readily predictable plan.
Addressing participants of the ceremony to officially launch the AngloGold Ashanti Ghana Ltd.’s 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) on Thursday, July 7th, 2022 at the AngloGold Ashanti School in Obuasi, Mr. Asubonteng said the SEDP is a well-thought-through plan with all stakeholders.
‘‘We are doing this not as a kneejerk intervention. We’ve talked through this 10-year Development Plan well over a year, in consultation with all our stakeholders. Religious, traditional and political leaders from the communities through to the National level. It cuts across every facet of the community’’.
‘‘The lessons we learnt from implementing the 3-year Social Management Plan (SMP) have also been reflected in this 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan.’’
He added that the 3-year SMP was excellent and that is why AngloGold Ashanti has gotten the confidence to start a 10-year Plan.
‘‘We would have heard from our stakeholders if the SMP wasn’t successful. The evidence is there. The KNUST Obuasi Campus was established through the 3-year Social Management Plan.’’
‘’There is a fully-equipped Intensive Care Unit to treat emergency cases here in Obuasi and we’ve also set up a fully-equipped Maternity Unit at the Obuasi Government Hospital,’’ – he added.
He concluded that, after every year or two, stakeholders are to hold the company to account on what they said they will do and not on the cost of the Plan, as costs changes from time to time.
The 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) will give room for a variety of initiatives and interventions, help support and keep the economy of Obuasi and also improve social development.