By Philip Tengzu
Nadowli, (UW/R), Dec. 20, GNA – The Azumah Resources Ghana Limited, a gold mining company in the Upper West Region, has taken steps to consolidate its already existing cordial relationship with its host communities with the introduction of a cycling event for the communities.
The community cycling event was aimed not only to foster unity among the communities and the mining company, but to also improve healthy living among young people through sports.
“You know without having a healthy relationship (with the communities) we will not be able to work as a company, so we see that as an opportunity to be able to have cordial relations with our communities and other stakeholders”, Mr Solomon Dery, the Community Relations Officer (CRO) of Azumah Resources Ghana Limited, said.
He was addressing participants of the cycling event and some Heads of Departments in Nadowli in the Nadowli-Kaleo District, after the event, dubbed: “Tour de Charikpong”.
He noted that many people who used bicycles daily did not even know the health benefits of it.
The CRO, therefore, said the mining company had taken it upon itself to promote cycling among the people through the annual cycling event.
“We thought that it is important we whip up that enthusiasm, let people understand that cycling has a lot of benefits.
If you go to other places people leave their vehicles and motorbikes and cycle to their workplaces and cycle back”, he explained.
Mr. Dery indicated that the company had secured the necessary documents to commence commercial mining at Kuuchebeboo, a community near Cherikpong in the Nadowli-Kaleo District, and that: “What is outstanding is the funding”.
He added that the company was still prospecting in other parts of the region and expressed hope that, “If we get a similar project like Kuuchebeboo, Azumah Resources can stay here for long and contribute to the economic development in the district and the region at large”.
Mr. Dery said that would also lead to the creation of more jobs and business opportunities for the people in the region.
Mr. Mumuni Rashid, an Assistant Director at the Nadowli-Kaleo District Assembly, urged the chiefs and people of the Azumah Resources host communities to cooperate with the company to enable it operate to support the development of the district.
He said: “We cannot continue to fight corporate organisations in the district. Azumah Resources is supporting the District Assembly a lot and we need to also support them”.
The 8th edition of the cycling event in the Nadowli-Kaleo District saw 169 cyclists, including 43 females from 16 communities in the Nadowli-Kaleo District and Jirapa Municipality participating.
Mr. Joseph Dakyea from Dambal and Miss Deborah Dery from Yagah emerged winners of the 20km cycling race, which commenced from Yagah in the Jirapa Municipality and ended at the Nadowli-Kaleo District Assembly and received a 43-inch LED television set each.
The first and second runner-ups of the men and women categories also received 32-inch LED television and mountain bikes each respectively. Other prizes were Chines bicycles, knapsack sprayers, and mobile phones.
The Nadowli East community also emerged as the overall winner among the communities and was given a cash prize of GH¢2,000.00.
The first runner-up was the Kpazie-Bano community, which also took home Gh¢1,500.00 while the Yagah community came third and also received Gh¢1000.00.
GNA