AngloGold Ashanti (AGA), Obuasi Mine, has handed over a fully installed 1.6km overhead powerlines and streetlights to the Obuasi Municipal Assembly.
The project, with the streetlights spanning between Koffekrom and Anyinam, both suburbs of Obuasi, formed part of the commitment made by AGA to the people of Obuasi to improve the social infrastructure of the city.
Apart from beautifying the stretch of the Obuasi Gold Street, it would also enhance security by protecting road users who have been complaining of the nocturnal activities of criminals along the road as a results of the absence of streetlights.
Stakeholders Engagement Superintendent of AGA, Edmond Oduro Agyei, mentioned that the project also formed part of the community safety initiative of AngloGold Ashanti which features prominently in their 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan.
“We believe that provision of streetlights is a primary responsibility of the Assembly but as corporate citizens, AGA deems it as a shared responsibility to also contribute positively to the well-being of the people of Obuasi,” he remarked.
Fully funded by AngloGold Ashanti at a cost of GH650,000, Mr. Oduro Agyei said the project would help improve the well-being of road users on that stretch.
He said the project, though was an initiative of the Obuasi Municipal Assembly, AngloGold Ashanti had to step in to fund it when the request came through from the Assembly for support.
Mr. Elijah Adansi-Bonah, Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) for Obuasi hailed the working relationship that existed between Anglogold Ashanti and the Obuasi Municipal Assembly.
He said the healthy relationship between the two institutions had contributed immensely to the development of Obuasi.
“I can say that the Assembly is enjoying unprecedented healthy working relationship with AGA. The current management of AGA has been responsive to the needs and challenges of Obuasi anytime the Assembly petitions them for support”.
Touching on the streetlights, he said the Assembly took the initiative to install the streetlights on that stretch but theives came to steal them whenever they were installed.
And that the Assembly had to fall on AngloGold Ashanti for support when it became clear that the Assembly could not fund the project alone.
The MCE indicated that the Assembly had plans to extend streetlights to other parts of the Municipality without Streetlights to enhance security in those areas.
Nana Amoabeng Kotoko, Odikro of Anyinam, lauded Anglogold Ashanti for their proactiveness in supporting the communities where the Mine operates.
He assured that the community would protect the streetlights from unscrupulous people who would attempt to cut the cables.
FROM KINGSLEY E.HOPE, KUMASI