The Ghana Chamber of Mines has made a donation of GHc11.5 million (the equivalent of US$2 million) to the Ministry of Health and allied institutions as part of the mining industry’s voluntary contribution to the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
The Chamber, led by its President, Eric Asubonteng, made the donation at a brief ceremony on Thursday, 9th April 2020.
Producing member companies of the Chamber that contributed to the donation are Adamus Resources Ltd, AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine, Asanko Gold Ghana Ltd, Chirano Gold Mines, Golden Star Resources, Gold Fields Ghana, Newmont Ghana and Perseus Mining Gh. Ltd.
The donation, according to the Chamber, will go into the procurement of essential medical equipment.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Asubonteng said just as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended, the critical step of increased testing should be done quickly and effectively to facilitate isolation and containment of the infection.
“It is our fervent expectation that this donation will ease the pressure on the government and free up much-needed resources for other essential aspects of the national strategy for COVID-19,” he said.
He added: “You may have heard about the measures individual member companies of the Chamber have put in place to protect our employees, contractors and host community from the infection. These include extensive internal COVID-19 protocols on our operations, as well as donations at the local level to health facilities, local government institutions and community groups.
“As a good Ghanaian corporate citizen, even as we seek the promotion of our respective business interests, we at the Ghana Chamber of Mines recognise the need to also identify ourselves with progressive national efforts to protect the people and institutions in our host communities and the nation at large.”
Mr Asubonteng also stressed the need for Ghanaians to heed the advice of the Ghana Health Service and the medical staff as “…we put our shoulders to the wheel to safeguard our dear country from the effects of this pandemic.”
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