First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo has admonished companies to strive to make the wellbeing of members of communities that nestle around their operations their priority.
According to her, national development should not be left in the hands of government alone but should be a shared responsibility.
“Companies should care about the well-being of the communities within which they operate. Indeed, national development does not rest with the government alone. We must all play our part towards a healthy and prosperous nation,” she urged.
She therefore applauded Gold Fields for the numerous social interventions it has instituted which are aimed at improving the living conditions of residents in its operational area.
The First Lady was speaking at the Commissioning of the Huni-Valley Health Centre, in the Prestea-Huni Valley Municipality in the Western Region.
The Huni Valley Health Centre had only six beds.
Gold Fields has upgraded it to a 26-bed facility at a cost of GH¢800,000.
It is now also equipped with a child healthcare center and two consulting rooms for doctors, has good ventilation and great surrounding.
Rebecca Akufo-Addo commended Gold Fields for the health facility, stressing that it was appropriate for the facility to have been upgraded and equipped with modern facilities considering the thousands of people who have to depend on it every day for the healthcare.
“I must say Gold Fields’ commitment to improving the health and maternal care in host communities is also admirable. Apart from the Huni-Valley Health Centre, I’ve also learnt of the construction of the New Atuabo Clinic and nurses’ quarters, the maternity block and nurses’ quarters at the Tarkwa Government Hospital, the Huniso Community Clinic, as well as the provision of medical equipment for the Awudua Health Centre.”
She also expressed delight in the numerous health awareness programmes, including ‘Bo Wo Ho Ban’ radio programme, which discusses various health issues which is at the behest of Gold Fields.
“In Damang, I’m aware that the Mine recently embarked on a week-long awareness programme on the deadly coronavirus. These efforts are truly commendable,” she observed.
To her, these life-changing interventions by Gold Fields is what Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) should be about.
“…It is about an organization’s commitment to the larger community. Whilst social responsibility helps improve an organization’s image and gives them the social licence to operate, it enhances the livelihoods of host communities. That is how powerful and vital Corporate Social Responsibility can be.”
She also referred to the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, which has made huge investment in education, health, water and sanitation as well as livelihood enhancement programmes in the host communities.
“Key among these projects include scholarships for over 2,000 students, provision of school infrastructure, teaching materials, libraries and ICT centres such as the Abosso Library, as well as programmes to motivate teachers such as your annual Teachers’ Awards.”
Her delight in the works of Gold Fields, she said, is because she has also over the years through her foundation – Rebecca Foundation – supported government’s efforts to improve health care for women and children, literacy among children, as well as economic empowerment for women.
The Foundation has established strategic partnerships with the private sector, governmental agencies and development partners, to help address these critical issues.
In just two years, the Rebecca Foundation has impacted so many lives across the country through projects, such as the construction of the Mother and Baby Unit at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Korle, Bu Teaching Hospital and many others.
According to her, “there is an opportunity for partnership to address key issues on health, education and economic empowerment for women in the two municipalities of Prestea-Huni Valley and Tarkwa-Nsuaem.
“The Rebecca Foundation, therefore, looks forward to this partnership opportunity with Gold Fields,” she said.
By Eric Yaw Adjei|3news.com|Ghana