FROM Daniel Y Dayee, Sunyani
IT IS announced for all inhabitants from Ahafo Region who in one way or the other have benefited from Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation’s scholarship and working in diverse fields across the globe to come home and contribute to development of their communities.
Dupped, Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation Scholarship Beneficiaries’ Home-coming under the theme, ‘Connecting the Past Inspiring the future’, over fouteen thousands (14,307) beneficiaries including doctors, nurses, engineers, ICT specialists, teachers, artisans and enterpreneurs are expected to gather at Ntotrosu in the Asutifi North District this Tuesday to celebrate seventeen years of human resource development in the region.
In a press statement released to media houses and signed by executive secretary of the foundation, Elizabeth Opoku- Darko, NADeF since its establishment has invested 42.8m Ghana cedis in scholarship and capacity building inititiatives.
Thus, the maiden home-coming is to bring together all past and present beneficiries to celebrate achievements, reconnect and explore collaborative opportunities to advancing development in the communities.
‘It marks, a historic milestone of community foundation model’, the release noted.
According to the release, since 2008, NADeF has acrued Gh 360m from Newmont Ghana Gold Limited’s financial commitment of 1 dollar per every ounce of gold mined from the communities and 1% of annual net pre- tax profit to NADeF for development.
The beneficiaries from Kenyasi No 1&2, Ntotroso, Gyedu Wamanahinso, Yamfo, Susuanso, Afisipakrom, Techire and Adrobaa are to come back and demonstrate their appreciation.
They include 7,855 males and 6, 452 females professionals who are workibg in various fields and are contributing to the country’s development and beyond.
Apart from the above professionals, another 7, 862 students currently are studying for their degrees, diplomats and professional certificates in various fields across the country.
Madam Elizabeth Opoku-Darko emphasised that the homecoming is to not just to celebrate statistics but encourage growing network of alumni who must commit to development back in their roots by giving back to society. So they will become active contributors to their own communities.
She therefore urged all and sundry both home and abroad to participate and make the home-coming a success.
It stated that in addition to moneys acruming into its coffers for community development, Newmont since 2020 has also committed to contributing $300,000 for cross-communities development in its operational areas. This is worth acknowledging.
The home-coming is therefore to celebrate transformed lives, families and true legacy of gold found in the communities. It is also to celebrate gender inclusion and equitable development in the communities.
The gold find is never a curse but blessing for our human resource development and progress of communities.