The Kwahu West Municipal Assembly has launched the Akroma and Obomeng Stool Development Fund (AKRODEF) to promote development in areas where Akroma Gold Mining Company operates.
This committee will oversee the management of funds, ensure accountability, and serve as a liaison between stakeholders, including the company, the Obomeng Stool, and local communities.
AKRODEF’s key roles include:
– Coordinating development initiatives
– Reviewing proceeds for community development
– Managing Corporate Social Responsibility implementation
– Facilitating communication between Akroma Gold and affected communities
– Ensuring effective use of royalties paid to the Obomeng Stool.
The initiative aims to address community concerns, promote transparency, and drive development in the area. Akroma Gold has also initiated a reclamation project, covering hundreds of acres of devastated mining sites, to create employment opportunities and promote agriculture.
At an inaugural ceremony on Wednesday, February 18, at the Kwahu West Municipal Assembly, Coordinating Director, Daniel Nkrumah said the Committee has been empowered to steer the coordination between the Assembly, Obomeng Stool and the Akroma Mining Company to spearhead development with an oversight responsibility from the Assembly.
“You’ve been empowered to by this Assembly, with an authority henceforth, to carry out the duties given to you. This committee was set up a couple of months ago when some agitated youth staged demonstrations against Akroma Gold because they did not understand certain things that happened. After this uproar, the team that met here decided to set a foundation that can liaise between the Assembly, Nananom and the Gold Company. Today we’re here to, first of all, witness that and then the Authority will be given to the Committee”
Community Relations Manager for Akroma Gold, Enoch Agbloh, commended the initiative, citing it as a positive development-driven plan for the benefit for all stakeholders. He said the new plan will create awareness and bridge the gap of miscommunication but rather ensure peace, and accountability.
He charged the committee to focus on visiting the various communities regularly to ascertain and realise their needs.
Akroma Gold’s efforts align with the Assembly’s goal to improve infrastructure and stimulate economic growth in district capitals.
Obomeng Hene Nana Effah Opinamang III, charged the committee to adhere to accountability and eschew personal gains to ensure the success of the AKRODEF.
The Stool Lands has already initiated a reclamation project, covering hundreds acres of devastated illegal mining sites in Kwahu West, with plans to cultivate cash crops like coconut, oil palm, and cocoa. This project aims to create employment opportunities for over 200 youth and promote agriculture in the area.
The Office of the Obomeng Stool Lands (OOSL) is also involved in managing stool land revenues, ensuring they’re used for community development. In most communities, the Stool has inaugurated several projects including classroom blocks with ICT laboratories, benefiting local schools.
Chairman for the AKRODEF committee, Solomon Kwame Otu called for enough support for the initiative fund, asserting that accountability will he key to its operations while emphasizing the establishment a Secretariat to manage the affairs of the office as part of efforts to ensure transparency and easy access to information.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Kwahu West, Tamimu Halidu, commended all the stakeholders foe their efforts in the realization of this platform. He said the Assembly will monitor the operations of the Committee to ensure its mandate, responsibilities are met.
The Akroma and Stool Development Fund (AKRODEF) is an eleven-member panel committee that has been carefully selected for the supervision of this initiative with an overall oversight from both the Obomeng, Obo Stool and the Kwahu West Assembly.
