By: Jack Affram 
As part of its corporate social responsibility to improve the social and?economic lives of people in communities and societies where it operates,?AngloGold Ashanti, the Ghana Stock- Exchange – ?listed mining company,?together with its partners, is currently battling ?mosquitoes in?malaria – endemic communities in 22 districts and municipalities in the?country, and ultimately up to 40 districts, to save lives.
Though most of the ?beneficiary communities are far away from Obuasi and?Iduapriem in Ashanti and Western Regions where the company operates two?mines, AngloGold Ashanti Malaria Ltd(AGAMal), the malaria control?subsidiary of AngloGold Ashanti, has completed its initial indoor?spraying ?in the Upper East and Upper West, Ashanti ?and Central Regions?and is currently wiping out the mosquitoes in Western Region.
In a presentation on AngloGold Ashanti’s operational and sustainability?interventions to 27 senior military Officers from the Ghana Armed Forces?Staff College in Obuasi?on Tuesday, Mr ?Fred Attakumah, the company’s?Vice President for Sustainable Development, said though we are ?a purely?mining company, AngloGold Ashanti’s broader ?objective is to join hands?with progressive organizations not only in Africa, but the world at?large, to create a world free of malaria. In Africa malaria ?is a major?source of mortality, especially among ?pregnant women and children.
Mr Attakumah noted that the AngloGold Ashanti international award?winning ?malaria programme (AGAMal) started in Obuasi in 2006, where?AGAMal, through its indoor residual spraying programme, ?successfully?reduced malaria cases in the Obuasi Municipality ?by 75% in two years;?and in recognition of the success, the Switzerland – based Global Fund?is partnering AGAMal with a funding of $130 million over 5years to scale?up the Obuasi programme to other places in Ghana.
As result of the spraying programme, which has led to significant?downward movement of malaria cases, he said, enrolment of school?children has markedly increased and absenteeism among workers, traders?and market women in general has reduced. The Obuasi experience with?AGAMal is a clear evidence that ?malaria can be curbed, he said.
Besides the malaria strides, the Vice President said the company through?AngloGold Ashanti Community Trust Fund, which was set up last year, is?supporting development of the education sector to complement the efforts?of the government and private sectors, saying ” we ?donated 12 Toyota?mini ?buses and 140 desktop computers to public schools in the?communities last year. Just last week, the company cut sod to begin the?construction of school blocks and teachers’ quarters in four?communities, adding that” contracts for the projects ?have been signed?and they are expected to be completed in first quarter 2014 at a cost of?GHC600,000″.
Mr Attakumah also highlighted contributions the company has made across?the country in the areas of education, sports development, technical?skills development for the youth at the Obuasi Engineering Training?Centre and additions to transport infrastructure such as roads and the?Obuasi Airport which was commissioned last year. He indicated that these?investments were aligned to the company’s value of making our?communities better off for our being there. “Even though Obuasi is?currently in survival mode given the depressed gold price and?significant hikes in input costs”, he said, “we have not reneged on our?commitments to our communities and stakeholders. We will therefore?require everyone’s support as we confront these significant challenges”.
On his part, the Municipal Chief Executive of Obuasi, Mr Ofori Agyemang?Boadi commended AngloGold Ashanti for its commitment to support the?development of Obuasi and pledged his support to the transformation?measures being pushed by the company to ensure Obuasi ?becomes?profitable and ?massive gold producer. “The survival and ultimate?success of the operation means that there will be more funding and tax?revenue from the company to support development projects and social?activities in the municipality and the country as a whole”, the MCE?said.
The visiting team comprised of senior military officers who are?underdoing further studies at the Ghana Armed Forces Staff College ?and?hailed Ghana, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Tanzania, Cote D’voire and Nigeria.?According to their leader, Colonel Omane Amoako, ?the team visited?Obuasi as part of their research to understand ?the mine’s operation,?its achievements, challenges and its impact on the communities.
