By Erica Apeatua Addo
Pepesa (W/R), Aug. 2, GNA – The Gold Fields Ghana Foundation (GFGF) Board of Trustees has inspected road projects in its catchment communities to assess progress and ensure their timely completion.
Among the projects inspected by the Board were the construction and rehabilitation of the 14.21-kilometre Samahu-Pepesa road and the construction of the 2.26-kilometre Budo City Junction to Bogoso Junction road.
The Samahu-Pepesa road project is currently 35.84 per cent complete and is expected to be completed by October 2027, while the Budo City Junction to Bogoso Junction road project is 76.84 per cent complete and scheduled for completion by June 2027.
During a media briefing, Dr Catherine Kuupol Kuutor, a member of the Board of Trustees, expressed satisfaction with the level of work done so far and commended the contractors and consultants for their efforts.
She also praised the traditional authorities and community members for accepting the projects, saying it was encouraging that the initiatives were based on the needs and priorities of the people.
Mr Kenneth Ashigbey, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, said although people often wished for Tarkwa to become like Johannesburg, achieving that would require sustained investment in host communities.
He noted that the percentage of royalties returned to traditional and local authorities currently stood at eight per cent, which he described as inadequate.
He called for an increase in the allocation to at least 30 per cent for host communities, with the funds channelled into strategic investments, adding that mining companies could also direct their corporate social investments towards such initiatives.
“For instance, the 2.26-kilometre road that Gold Fields is constructing, if the government adds a little to it, we would see gradual and sustained development in the communities,” Mr Ashigbey stated.
He explained that such investments would serve as an impetus to generate more revenue for the country.
Mr Matthew Aryeh, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Prestea Huni-Valley, said the Samahu-Pepesa road linked six communities and served several cocoa and poultry farmers whose livelihoods depended on access to good roads.
He said farmers transported their produce to the main market centre in Bogoso, and therefore the completion of the project would provide much-needed relief to them and the assembly.
The MCE explained that the assembly initially planned to use its District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) equipment to grade the Samahu-Pepesa road, but following Gold Fields’ intervention, the equipment had been deployed to other areas requiring attention.
Mr Aryeh appealed to traditional authorities and community members to support the contractors to ensure the projects were completed as scheduled.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga /Audrey Dekalu
Reporter Erica Apeatua Addo [email protected]