Sunyani (B/A), Oct. 28, GNA - Five institutions have donated cheques totalling GHC 75,000 in support of the on-going celebration of the 50th anniversary of the creation of Brong-Ahafo Region, at Sunyani on Tuesday. The management of Ahafo project of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) presented a cheque of GHC 50,000 and 1,500 anniversary tee shirts whilst the Sunyani Area Church of Pentecost donated a cheque of GHC 1,000. The National Investment Bank, Ghana Commercial Bank and Agricultural Development Bank presented a cheque of GHC 5,000 each.

Mr. Dan Michaelsen, General Manager, Environment and Social Responsibility of NGGL, expressed the company's appreciation for the cooperation between Newmont and Brong-Ahafo regional administration and the traditional authorities in its areas of operation. "As corporate citizens of this region we consider it an obligation and a privilege to support great occasions such as this one in the life of the region", he said.

Mr. Michaelsen pledged the company's participation in other events planned to commemorate the anniversary. Receiving the cheques, Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Regional Minister, thanked the donors for the gesture.

He expressed regret that some financial institutions that had operated in the region for the past 30 years failed to support the anniversary when they were approached by the planning committee.

Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo said the celebration of the creation of the region was launched in April this year and it would be climaxed by a grand durbar of chiefs and people of the region on November 7, 2009.

He said as part of the celebration, the planning committee has planned to erect monuments at vantage points in the Sunyani Municipality. Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo gave the assurance that the monies would be used judiciously.