MANSO-NKRAN, Ghana––Asanko Gold Ghana Limited, a gold mining company operating in the Amansie West District of this country, said it is setting up a cooperative credit union to support the growth of local businesses in its operation area.
Charles Amoah, General Manager (Operations) of the company, said the total assets of the CU, which is now up and running and called Obotan Cooperative Credit Union, now stands at GHȼ200,000.00 and had membership in excess of 1,000.
Asanko Gold Ghana Ltd. provided the seed fund and office equipment for the union.
The announcement of the new credit union was made when Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei-Mensah, together with other members of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), visited the mine at Manso-Nkran.
According to local media, the government officials were on hand to help defuse the rising tension between the young people in the mining area and the company. The youth have accused the company of failing to live up to its social responsibility to the communities.
Amoah was quoted as saying the company was eager to ensure that small businesses had access to credit to expand, and he expressed optimism that many small-scale business operators would join the credit union to boost the local economy.
Amoah added that the development, welfare and safety of the people in the area was a major priority of the company.
Osei-Mensah encouraged the company to do more to support the development of education, health and agriculture to transform the lives of the employees and members.