AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Gold Mine has sponsored the first runner-up in Municipal Best Farmer and Best Female Farmer awards at the 33rd national farmers with a sponsorship package valued at approximately GH¢12,000.
The celebration was held at Wassa Simpa in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality and Dumase in the Prestea-Huni Valley District in the Western Region.
A statement signed by the Acting Senior Manager – Sustainability, AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Gold Mine Mr Stephen Adjei, and copied to Today said, the sponsorship formed part of the AngloGold Ashanti’s support to farmers and to help promote women empowerment in its catchment area.
It said, since inception, more women in the area have ventured into agriculture making the vocation attractive.
Ms Awo Wugah, 65 year old farmer from Esuaso was the first runner-up.
She won a variety of gifts including a plasma television set, an orthopaedic mattress and a sewing machine.
That was Ms Wugah’s second win as best female farmer.
She has been farming for over thirty years and cultivates cocoa, maize, spices, pineapples, cassava and plantain.
“Hard work and perseverance are the two pillars that have kept me going, she said, expressing appreciation to the mining company for the honour done her”.
Madam Awo Wugah encouraged more women especially the youth to venture into commercial farming as a business since its benefits were rewarding.
Mr Gabriel Yeboah, a former beneficiary of Iduapriem’s local economic development programme also received an award for the Municipal Vegetable farmer.
At Dumase-Bogoso, Madam Amina Agyimah from Damang, a gold mining community in the Prestea Huni-Valley District won the Best Female farmer award. She received a plasma television set, wellington boots, bags of NPK fertilizers, wax print, one packet of roofing sheets among others.
“We are thankful to AngloGold Ashanti for sponsoring the Best Female Award category every year. I am proud of the items I have received and in fact, AngloGold Ashanti stood tall among its peers,” Madam Amina Agyimah said.
Commenting on the sponsorship, the Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Gold Mine, Jasper Musadaidzwa, said the sponsorship formed part of the AngloGold Ashanti’s support to farmers and to help promote women empowerment in its catchment area.
“Since AngloGold Ashanti’s participation in supporting female farmers in its host communities, more women in the area have ventured into agriculture making the vocation attractive and as a mine that believes in empowering women, we will continue to support this noble cause,” he added.
National Farmers’ Day is commemorated each year to honour Ghanaian farmers and fishermen. The occasion is also used to acknowledge the vital role farmers and fishermen play in the nation’s socio-economic development.
This year’s celebration was on the theme, “Farming for food and Jobs”.
AngloGold Ashanti is a global gold mining company with 17 operations and exploration projects in four different regions namely South Africa, Continental Africa, Australasia and the Americas.
The primary listing of the company’s ordinary shares is on the JSE Limited (JSE).
Minerals and Mining Matters
…with Freeman KORYEKPOR AWLESU