Regional News of Wednesday, 27 July 2011

Source: GNA

Newmont assists Obeng Marnu Basic School

Kenyasi (B/A), July 27, GNA – United WAY Ghana (UWG), an NGO in collaboration with the employees of Newmont Ahafo Mine’s finance and IT department on Tuesday renovated the Obeng Marnu Presby Basic school at Kenyasi No. 1.

The exercise, under the theme “Day of Caring”, was part of the company’s social responsibility commitment to the community.

The employees cleaned, scrubbed, painted the classrooms, erected a new sign board to replace a broken one and donated a set of new jerseys and footballs at the cost of GH¢5,000 to the school.

The employees also donated a new table tennis set to the school.

Mr Arvind Mehta, financial controller of Newmont Ghana Ahafo mine, in a speech said the company had been a partner of the NGO for the past six years.

He said yearly, the company had participated in the Day of Caring programme through its regional office in Accra, saying the Finance and IT department took their turn to share love and care in the community.

He said “the value of making the lives of others better underpins how Newmont does business in its communities.”

Mr Mehta said the company with voluntary contributions of employees had supported various groups, organizations and institutions to the tune of GH¢80,000.

Dr Juliette Tuakli, president of the governing council of the NGO, said the Day of Caring gave volunteers the opportunity to donate their time, resources and skills to better the lot of vulnerable people in the community.

She said UWG has over 78 affiliate NGO’s and they work together to identify project needs in communities with focus on health, education and income generation.

Dr Tuakli commended Newmont Ghana for making it possible to organize the Day of Caring in the Ahafo community after several years of deliberation.

Madam Elizabeth Poyari, head mistress of the school, said the school lacked basic facilities and infrastructure to enhance effective teaching and learning.

She cited water, toilet, urinal, recreational facilities and proper structures to accommodate the students as some of the challenges facing the school.

She commended the NGO and Newmont Ghana for their kind gesture towards the school and called on other benevolent organizations to emulate them.