“We take pride in what we see today” – Emmanuel Baidoo on new 16-bed capacity Maternity Block in Obuasi

Emmanuel Baidoo, Senior Manager Sustainability of AngloGold Ashanti has expressed his joy at the commissioning of a new 16-bed capacity Maternity Block for the Obuasi Government Hospital. He revealed that AngloGold Ashanti as a company takes pride in the new facility.

The facility which cost GHS 1,116,191 was funded by AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Community Trust Fund. The facility aims to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths at the Hospital and improve access to maternal health care in the municipality and adjoining districts within the operational area.

Mr. Emmanuel Baidoo said the sod cutting for the constrution of the facility which took place in 2019 was his first activity as Senior Manager Sustainability of AngloGold Ashanti. He added that the project was financed from the US$200,000 seed money the Mine put into the Trust Fund.

Speaking at the event, the Adansihene Opagyakotwere Bonsra Afryie II said if previous managers of the Mine before AngloGold Ashanti did what AGA is doing now, Obuasi would have been better off. The chief, who is also a Board member of the  Trust Fund praised the contributions of the members on the Trust Fund Board.

Yaa Manu, Acting Municiapal Health Director asked for a minute of silence to be observed for the late Municipal health director, Dr. Akwasi Amankwaah who died last year. According to her, the late director played a key role at the earlier stages of the project before his passing.

About the Facility

The facility consists of an Operating theatre room, a delivery room examination room, recovery room, anesthetic room, sluice room, Neo-natal intensive care unit and a 2-Post-natal ward with 8 bed capacity each. It also has a Doctor & Nurses’ office with washrooms and reception area.

Equipment and accessories in the facility also include Operating Theatre table, Operating lamp, Incubators, delivery beds, ward beds, examination bed and lamp. There is also a recovery bed, Anaesthesia Machine, Autoclave, baby scale, Patients monitor, wheel Chair and Pulse Oximeter.

The project was initiated after several engagements with the Municipal Health Directorate, Management of the Hospital and with confirmation from the Municipal Assembly as well as other stakeholders on the challenges related to maternal health care in the Municipality.

The project was constructed by GABS Civil Engineering works, an Obuasi based contractor.

Take away Mineral Royalties from your IGF

Opagyakotwere Bonsra Afryie II  touched on the issue of mineral royalties paid to Assemblies, urging them to resist from adding their mineral royalties to their Internally Generated Funds (IGF).

“Remove the royalties money from your Internally Generated Funds. Set special projects which you will use the mineral royalties for. This will enable us to know what the royalties are been used for.” he said.

About Community Trust Fund

The AGA – Obuasi Community Trust Fund (AGA-OCTF) exists to make investments in a way that contributes meaningfully to community development, aligns with the priorities of communities and local government. This undeniably promotes a positive relationship between AGAG and the communities.

The Community Trust Fund has operated since its inception in 2012 and has provided projects in the area of Education Health, water and sanitation to mining communities.

The new arrangement under the Development Agreement signed with the Government of Ghana in 2018, requires the mine to contribute USD2/Oz of gold produced into the trust fund. The mine since December 2019 has contributed GHS 2,377.385.84 from this new arrangement to the Trust Fund

Trustees of the Fund include Bempong Marfo as its Chairperson, Nana Bonsa Afriyie II, Benjamin Aryee, Eric Asubonteng, Emmanuel Baidoo, Nana Kwabena Ponko II.