Established in 2008 to push development in the 10 mine-take communities within the Ahafo Mine, NGGL sets aside US$1 of every ounce of gold produced and one per cent of its annual net profit into the fund.

According to Mrs Elizabeth Opoku-Darko, the Executive Secretary of NADeF, the Foundation has spent GHC52 million on operational and community development projects.

She was interacting with journalists after conducting them round some sites of community projects completed at Adrobaa, Susuanso, Yamfo, Techire and Afrisipakrom in the Tano North Municipality of Brong-Ahafo Region, as the Foundation marks its 10th anniversary celebration.

Mrs Opoku-Darko said NADeF has completed more than 110 physical infrastructural projects that include health centres, classroom blocks, teachers and nurses’ quarters, social centres, mechanised boreholes as well as extended electricity to deprived areas within the mine-take areas.

Other beneficiary communities included Kenyasi Number One, Kenyasi Number Two, Gyedu, Ntotroso and Wamahinso in the Asutifi North District.

On education, Mrs Opoku-Darko said 8,120 tertiary, Senior High and Technical School students had been awarded scholarships, whilst 13,000 basic school children and 440 teachers have benefited from a project to improve on quality education in the area.

Twelve motorbikes have also been distributed to circuit supervisors in the Tano North Municipality and Asutifi North District, whilst additional scholarships have also been awarded to 681 students studying in health training institutions.

Mrs Opoku-Darko appealed to the beneficiary communities to adopt the culture of maintenance so that the projects would last longer.