Chirano Gold Mines Limited has launched the Chirano Sefwiman Foundation, an initiative to help in providing opportunities and structured support for the people of Sefwi, within a strong framework of governance and transparency.
General Manager, Terence Watungwa at the launch said that Kinross Gold’s values of outstanding corporate citizenship, and putting people first forms part of the creation of the organization and the expected benefits it will yield Sefwi.
“Education is key to improving the future well-being of Sefwi. The foundation will support the youth in this area and provide opportunities for the long term,”
he said
The foundation will be seen tackling unemployment by rolling out programs to train and equip the youth with skills which will then improve their chances of gaining jobs with companies all over the country.
The Chirano Sefwiman Foundation in the educational aspect, will institute a scholarship program for local communities to help local youth at various levels of their education and students who lack resources to pursue an education will have access to higher levels of learning and its resulting benefits and opportunities.
Also, students will be supported to set up viable businesses which could in turn go on to employ others through the program’s additional focus on entrepreneurship.
Chairman of the Community Consultative Committee (CCC), Chief of Sefwi-Paboase, Nana Frimpong Manso Ababio, also said the foundation will also look at women empowerment programs and scholarships.
“This is going to support brilliant but needy students within Sefwi Wiawo, Sefwi Anhwiaso and Sefwi Chirano Traditional Area” he said.
For the agreement and the launch of the foundation, three paramount chiefs represented Sefwiman. They are the Paramount Chief of Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Area, Katakhyie Bumankama the Second, Paramount Chief of Chirano Traditional Area, Okogyeaman Kwaku Gyambra the Third and Paramount Chief of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyabi the Second.
Appreciating the benefits of the foundation, the chiefs said the accompanying scholarship in the long term will economically empower the youth and improve lives in the communities.
Paramount Chief of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyabi the Second, also urged those in charge to ensure sure that deserving brilliant but needy natives get the scholarships because he is optimistic that it will serve as a source of encouragement for them to come back to serve their community.
The chief emphasized that the contribution as paramount chiefs is to allow the people understand what is going on and give them the corporation they need.
He expressed joy at the initiative and also advised that the Chiefs advise the people not to make unnecessary demand from them.
“For several years we have been asking for the establishment of a foundation for the Chirano Gold Mines Limited catchment area, so today being the day of launch; we are very happy because it is going to impact positively on the people.”
Paramount Chief of Chirano Traditional Area, Okogyeaman Kwaku Gyambra the Third, advised the beneficiaries to justify their inclusion.
“This is not a right but a privilege, so once they are selected, we expect them to work hard to justify their inclusion and then motivate those of us including the company to do more.
If the beneficiaries use the scholarships very well and advance in their various studies of endeavor, certainly it will encourage us and the mines to vote more money to cover more people,”
he said
Chinaro Mines since its first gold pour has provided US$1 for every ounce it produces towards social development, placing these contributions into a Community Trust Fund.
This Trust Fund has grown to approximately GH₵11.3 million, a sum that will be managed and deployed by the Foundation towards initiatives in the areas of education, healthcare, economic empowerment, and water and sanitation management.
