AngloGold Ashanti School Celebrates 25years of UNESCO ASPnet Membership

The Senior Manager for Administration at AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine, Mr. Hussein Abugri, has called on stakeholders to support the transformation process of the Obuasi Mine to enable the company deliver on its commitments.

He said the Mine was undergoing a major transformation process that would revamp the operations of the company to produce more ounces of gold which in return would generate more revenue for development.

“You will agree with me that AGA has been facing some challenges at its Obuasi Mine but we can assure you that plans are being made to solve these challenges. I will therefore encourage all to continue to support the company especially at this critical stage for the benefit of all”, he stated.

Mr. Abugri was speaking at a ceremony organised by the AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine in collaboration with the authorities of the AngloGold Ashanti School to mark the school’s 25th anniversary celebration of being a member of the UNESCO Associated Schools Project Networking (ASPnet) at Obuasi.

The ASPnet is a United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organisation Associated Schools Project Network for schools throughout the world, committed to the ideas of UNESCO. The project prepares the youth in schools to meet challenges that continually face humanity such as proper management of the environment, human rights and cordial inter-cultural relationship.

The event was under the theme ‘Sustainability of UNESCO ASPnet; Through International Cultural Exchange’.

Mr. Abugri assured the public that AGA would continue to make the welfare of its host communities a priority through education and other development activities.

He commended the executives of UNESCO ASPnet for their support in enhancing the knowledge of students in the Obuasi community through the various activities under the project.

Mr Abugri therefore, urged the students to take full advantage of all UNESCO programmes as it will help shape them for the future.

In his keynote address, the Omanhene of Kokofu Traditional Area, Barima Offe Akwasi Okogyeasuo II, expressed excitement at the progress of the AGA School in its academics and other extra-curricular activities.


“Since the school joined ASPnet in September 1988, the project has boosted the confidence in the students that enables them to interact and compete in academics with other schools anywhere in the world”, he added.

Barima Okogyeasuo II, who was also the first Ghanaian Headmaster of the AGA School, explained that the programme served as a platform for the exchange of ideas and experiences, and urged beneficiary students to share the knowledge acquired with their peers and colleagues from other communities.

According to the National UNESCO ASPnet Coordinator, Mr. Apollonius Osei-Akoto Asare, the project aimed at promoting respect for human rights, creating awareness on the effective management of the environment, inter-cultural learning and peace, tolerance and international understanding.

He outlined some notable UNESCO programmes and projects the school participated in and excelled.

“The AGA School since it joined ASPnet has participated in a number of activities including the World Heritage Conference for English-Speaking African countries in Zimbabwe in September 1996; The World Youth Parliament in France in 1999; The Transatlantic Slave Trade (TST) Project of UNESCO in 2002; The Global Environmental Youth Convention in Dubai in 2006; The16th Kanagawa Biennial World Children Art Exhibition Awards in Japan in July 2011; UN/UNESCO International Video Conference on the Abolition of Slave Trade in March and 4th UNESCO Sub-Regional Choral Contest in Lomé, Togo in 2012”, he indicated.

Mr Osei-Akoto Asare further commended the management of AGA and the authorities of the AGA School for promoting quality and dedicated education in the Obuasi community and the country.

The Danish students who joined the AGA school in the celebration of the 25th anniversary expressed appreciation towards the school for hosting them and assured them they would continue to contribute to global understanding and teachings on human rights.

The event was graced by chiefs, Ghanaian and Danish personalities and students with some parents.

PICTURE CAPTION:
The Omanhene of Kokofu Traditional Area, Barima Offe Akwasi Okogyeasuo II, delivering his address at the ceremony.


About AngloGold Ashanti
AngloGold Ashanti is a global gold mining company and the world’s third largest gold producer. Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, AngloGold Ashanti has 20 operations on four continents and one of the gold industry’s most successful exploration teams which work across both the established and new gold producing regions of the world. This includes land positions in Colombia, Guinea and Australia, among others. AngloGold Ashanti employed 61,242 people, including contractors, in 2011 and produced 4.33Moz of gold, generating $6.6bn in gold income. Capital expenditure in 2011 amounted to $1.5bn. As at 31 December 2011, AngloGold Ashanti’s Ore Reserve totalled 75.6Moz.
The primary listing of the company’s ordinary shares is on the JSE Limited (JSE). Its ordinary shares are also listed on stock exchanges in London and Ghana, as well as being quoted in New York in the form of American Depositary Shares (ADSs), in Australia, in the form of CHESS Depositary Interests (CDIs) and in Ghana, in the form of Ghanaian Depositary Shares (GhDSs)

Media Contact:
John Owusu Tel: +233 244 322 026 E-mail: john.owusu@AngloGoldAshanti.com


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