A Corporate Social Responsibility Project-Fund jointly set
up by the Ghana National Gas Company and Quantum PLC has accrued $5.6 million,
about GH¢40 million.
The project fund is being used
to support developmental projects in education, transport, sanitation, health,
security, and to provide institutional, traditional and community support for
project-affected communities.
Beneficiary communities so far
include Asemda, Anokyi, Ellembelle and Nzema in the Western Region.
The fund is fed from the annual profits of both companies to
improve affected livelihoods in the communities.
“This money comes from the
prices of liquified petroleum gas (LPG), $20 per metric tonne for the project
fund, and we have so far done some development projects in the region,” the
Head of Corporate Communications of Ghana National Gas Company, Ernest Owusu-Bempah
Bonsu, told journalists in Accra last Tuesday.
Mr Owusu-Bempah Bonsu said the
fund had specifically been used to execute projects such as the renovation of
schools, hospitals, roads, and the construction of an astro turf in the Western
Region.
He refuted claims that there was no developmental project
undertaken in the Ellembelle and other districts by the company.
He explained, however, that
although the fund had been made available to authorities in charge of
developmental projects in the region, they had not pitched projects to receive
the relevant funding.
Projects undertaken
Mr Owusu-Bempah Bonsu said the
two companies had also constructed four-unit teachers’ quarters for the Asemnda
Suazo and Anokyi communities, a nursery facility at Asemnda Suazo, and
supported the Nzulezu Development Committee to rehabilitate their community
centre.
He said through the fund, a
33-seater Toyota Coaster bus has been donated to the Ellembelle Elderly Care
Centre and the Eastern and Western Nzema Traditional councils to facilitate
their operations.
He noted that the company
occasionally made cash donations to the Karela United and Nzema Kotoko football
clubs, and traditional councils and schools.
“In terms of sanitation, we have constructed an eight-seater
water closet washroom facility and a mechanised borehole in Allabokazo
community,” he added.
He said it was imperative to
note that the CSR projects were initiated through the board in line with proper
needs assessment conducted by the research team.
Commitment
He noted that Ghana Gas was
committed to making available money for developmental projects when the need
arose.
“Apart from the project fund put down for key projects in
the area, Ghana Gas has gone ahead to undertake several projects.
“We are constructing an
ultra-modern trauma centre in Ellembelle, which is about 70 per cent complete,
and it’s going to be one of the best in West Africa,” he said.
He also noted that they were
constructing an astro turf in Nzema.
Mr Bempah gave the assurance that the company would continue
to work to ensure that everyone across the country benefitted from its CRS
projects.
“It is, therefore, not true that Ghana Gas is not doing anything to support the people in the Western Region. We assure the public that Ghana Gas is working to ensure that everyone across the country benefits from the company’s CRS projects,” he said.
Source:Graphic.com.gh