The Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) has donated Personal Protective Equipment and hygiene items to bauxite-mining communities in Western North Region.
This forms part of the Corporation’s commitment to complement government’s efforts toward the national fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The presentation which took place in Sefwi Awaso in the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipality on Tuesday, 7th July 2020, was led by GIADEC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Michael Ansah.
The items donated to the 8 mining communities and 11 schools include, 100 veronica buckets, 100 dustbins, 100 buckets, 100 plastic chairs, 25 gallons of hand sanitizers, 100 bundles of large-sized paper towels, 83 gallons of liquid soap, 100 liquid soap dispensers, 3 cartons of lifebouy soap and 570 branded GIADEC nose masks among many others.
The beneficiary communities are Awaso, Asempaneye, Atronsu, Chirano, Kukunso, Subri, Akaasu and Adiembra all in the municipality, and 10 schools.
Addressing the community members at a mini durbar, the GIADEC CEO, Michael Ansah, expressed satisfaction with the collaboration between GIADEC and the Sefwi Ahwiaso paramountcy. He said, though GIADEC is yet to commence mining and refining of bauxite in the Municipality, it is appropriate for the organization to show solidarity to communities in bauxite mining areas who often are unattended to, to ensure that all the prescribed COVID-19 protocols are strictly observed.
Mr. Ansah assured the community that, GIADEC will continue to engage them, adding GIADEC cannot work in an environment contaminated with Coronavirus, hence the need to support the communities to contain the virus from overwhelming the municipality.
Briefing the community about what they stand to gain from GIADEC, the CEO said majority of the company’s workers who will be employed from the municipality include technical and non-technical staff.
“GIADEC is here to help Ghanaians and this municipality by creating an opportunity for the youth in the area of bauxite mining. All we need from you now is your effective cooperation for the smooth start of our mining activities to the collective good of all of us. We will do our part to meet some of the basic needs of the communities in the area of education, health among other things,’’ he assured.
Nana Kwame Amponsah, Chief of Sefwi Awaso, who received GIADEC’s donation, commended the CEO of the organization and its board for supporting the community in the national fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
He, however, called on the organization and its board to rescind any plan to build a bauxite refinery outside the municipality, assuring a land had already been released by the Awaso Traditional Council for the purpose.
GIADEC also used the event to educate the Sefwi Awaso community members on the need to observe coronavirus prescribed protocols by the World Health Organization (WHO) particularly on regular hand washing under running water with soap, the use of hand sanitizer, strict adherence to social distancing protocols and mandatory wearing of nose masks.
Source: Asaase Radio/ Wilberforce Asare
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