Managing Director of Health Goldfields, Mr. Patrick Appiah Mensah, has announced a bold five-year community development plan aimed at transforming communities within the company’s operational areas.
The major investment is committed into education, healthcare, infrastructure, enterprise development, and employment opportunities.
Speaking during the official launch of the company’s five-year community development plan, Mr. Mensah described the initiative as more than just a corporate exercise, stressing that it represents a strong commitment to improving the lives of people living in mining communities.
“Today is not merely a ceremony. Today is a statement of belief. I believe that mining must not only extract gold from the earth. It must also unlock opportunity for the people whose land carries that gold,” he stated.
According to him, Health Goldfields has committed 20 million US dollars over the next five years to directly support development projects across its catchment communities.
Mr. Mensah recounted the difficult state in which the company inherited the Bogoso-Prestea Mine, explaining that operations had completely collapsed before Health Goldfields took over.
“We inherited a collapsed mine. A mine whose underground workings had been flooded, operations shut down for more than 24 months, burdened with unpaid salaries, unpaid pensions, unpaid severance obligations, and unpaid statutory commitments.”
He added that the abandoned open pits had been invaded by intruders while critical infrastructure and equipment had either deteriorated or been vandalized.
The Managing Director noted that the collapse of the mine had devastating effects on surrounding communities, causing widespread unemployment and economic hardship.
“When a mine collapses in a community like ours, the pain does not stop at the mine gates. Businesses suffer, families struggle, and jobs disappear,” he stressed.
Despite the challenges, Mr. Mensah said the company refused to give up on the mine and instead chose to revive operations through what he described as one of Ghana’s most aggressive underground dewatering campaigns in recent history.
He disclosed that after more than two years of shutdown, the company successfully resumed mining activities and achieved its first gold pour, describing the achievement as “a pouring of hope” for the people of the area.
According to him, the company currently supports about 1,500 direct and indirect jobs, helping to restore livelihoods and revive local businesses.
Mr. Mensah further revealed that within just five months of active operations, Health Goldfields had spent more than GH¢150 million on procurements within local catchment communities to support local contractors and suppliers.
He added that the company had also paid GH¢290 million towards inherited worker-related obligations.
Touching on the newly launched development plan, Mr. Mensah announced several flagship projects earmarked for the beneficiary communities.
These include the establishment of a nursing training college in Prestea, the construction of a modern community centre in Bogoso, and the setting up of a technical and vocational training centre in Bepo to equip the youth with employable skills.
Other projects include the construction of a modern market centre for Bondaye, partnerships with the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), the establishment of an underground campus of UMaT in Prestea, as well as new classroom blocks, clinics, CHPS compounds, portable water systems, and road network improvements in several communities.
The company also plans to transform the Prestea Goldfields Basic School and Golden Star Basic School into model community basic schools.
In addition, Mr. Mensah announced scholarship packages for brilliant but needy students, youth apprenticeship programmes, and graduate training opportunities to prepare young people for employment within the mining sector and related industries.
He assured residents that the company remains committed to ensuring that the majority of its workforce is recruited from the catchment communities.
“We believe that the true value of mining is not measured only in ounces of gold. It is measured in jobs created, businesses supported, families empowered, and lives transformed,” he stated.
The launch ceremony brought together traditional leaders, government officials, community members, workers, and stakeholders from across the mining communities.
Source: Nana Fynn
