Newmont builds Police transit quarters

Newmont Ghana Limited has inaugurated a 14-unit transit quarters and an office building for the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies at New Abirim in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region.

The building, constructed by the Newmont Akyem Project is part of its social responsibility commitment aimed at combatting crime in the district, and to assist Government deal with security-related challenges.

Mr. Felix Apoh, the External Affairs Manager of the Newmont Akyem Project, said the mining company has had a longstanding relationship with the police service in the district.

“The Newmont Akyem Project has supported the police with two vehicles and provided them with 60 litres of fuel a week to combat the crime wave in the area, in addition to three desktop computers with their accessories to augment their performance.

“In line with its social responsibility commitment to promote effective partnership for sustainable development some community project were initiated last year in collaboration with the district assembly.”

He mentioned some of the projects to include a three-bedroom doctor’s bungalow and an eight-unit nurses’ quarters for the New Abirim District Hospital; a mechanised borehole and the provision of an overhead polytank with 20 cubic metres capacity that will be completed this year to provide potable water for the New Abirim township.

The outgoing Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Victor Smith, said peace, safety, security and stability are prerequisites for development in all sectors of the nation.

He applauded the district assembly for the establishment of a police station, a fire service station, district immigration office, an ambulance service and a district magistrate’s court; and applauded Newmont Akyem Project for fulfilling its corporate social responsibility.

Mr. James Abass Abaa, the Deputy Eastern Regional Police Commander accepting the facility on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, said police personnel have been posted to all parts of the country to maintain peace, law and order in society.

He appealed to the people not to use police personnel to settle personal scores, collection of debts and for interference in chieftaincy disputes, but cooperate with them to maintain peace and ensure development in the area.

The District Chief Executive, Ms. Mavis Ama Frimpong, said mining areas often face a lot of challenges due to the large influx of people and need the presence of the police and other security agencies to control the crime-wave.

The Chief of New Abirim, Obrimpong Kwesi Amo Kyeretwie, appealed for the reconstruction of roads in the area; especially the Nkakaw -- New Abirim-Kade Road and the New Abirim-Akim Oda Road, which are in a very deplorable condition.