The Minerals Development Fund through the Local Management Committee in the Talensi District has donated desks to selected schools in the Talensi District to support and improve the condition of teaching and learning in schools.
The gesture includes the donation of 365 dual desks to eight (8) Primary and Junior High Schools in the district. The beneficiary communities include Gaare, Gbane, Yameriga, Zanwore, Tola, Datuku, Wakii, and Bapella. Further, 16 hexagonal desks were provided to Tola, Datuku, and Bapella kindergartens.
In early 2022, the Talensi Local Management Committee constructed several water systems across some mining communities in the district from the Minerals development fund and this kind gesture has improved the livelihoods of residents in the mining communities in Talensi.
“For now, Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited is the only large-scale mining company in the Talensi District that is contributing to the fund and we have so far disbursed the funds that came to the Local Management Committee at the district level in the area of water and education which are of major concern to our people”, Samuel Kuug, Chairman of the Talensi Local Management Committee stated.
Mr. Samuel Kuug expressed optimism that the furniture provided to the schools would help address the challenges in the educational sector in the district.
“This forms part of the first phase of furniture distribution and we are optimistic and confident that all basic schools will be provided with furniture through the Minerals Development Fund, kind courtesy of Earl International Group Ghana Gold Ltd”, he added.
The Public Relations Officer of Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited, Ebenezer Bognaab, said the company is committing to support the government to provide basic social amenities and infrastructure to its host mining communities.
“And for that matter, as a company, we do not renege on payment of royalties and taxes to the government though we have undertaken some projects in the district under our corporate social responsibility and we will continue to support our host communities in the district”, Mr. Bognaab indicated.
Some residents who spoke to the media described the operation of Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited as a blessing to the communities “because thousands of the youth in the area have been employed directly and indirectly and this has improved their livelihoods.”
On the issue of the furniture, a parent, Yinbil expressed excitement with the provision of the furniture saying the gesture has come to improve the academic performance of pupils and students who used to learn on their stomachs and sat on bare floors in the classrooms.
“As part of the school PTA, we were planning to contribute some money to provide furniture for at least the JHS two and three students so they can prepare well ahead of the BECE, but we thank the Earl Group mining company for their contributions to the Minerals Development Fund and today our Primary, Junior High School and Kindergarten have received enough furniture”, he added.
The Minerals Development Fund (MDF) is a public fund set up by Act 912 of Parliament in 2016. The source of the fund is principally twenty percent (20%) of mineral royalties that are received by the Ghana Revenue Authority on behalf of the Republic.
The funds are mainly sourced from holders of mining leases in respect of their mining operations. The purpose of the Fund according to the Act is to provide financial resources for the direct benefit and advantage of mining communities. It is also to equip traditional and local government authority within a mining community. The MDF fund also sets aside a portion of sums of money for the institution responsible for the development of mining – Land and Natural Resources.
Apart from the company’s regular Royalty contributions to the Minerals Development Fund, the Ghana Revenue Authority collects taxes and fees from the company.
Through the Minerals development fund, some of the royalties paid by Earl International Group Ghana Gold Ltd are returned to the host communities of the mine and managed by the local management committee for the benefit and development of communities affected by mining operations.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|Talensi|Ghana
