When the Ghana Bauxite Company, an indigenous mining firm, recently unveiled its community relations office in Awaso, a community in the Western North region, one of the overarching themes in the pronouncements of its top managers was that it has transformed the lives of the people and community.
In the over eight decade existence of the company, this is the first time a center of such nature has been put in place, to act as a link between the community and the company. “It’s quite historic,” General Manager of the Company, Alex Gyedu, opined.
But, in contrast to the splendor displayed and smiles registered on the faces of the traditional authorities and management of the company, were the unmet expectations in the thoughts of a section of the community.
Inadequate desks for basic schools, deplorable roads in parts of the community and limited places of convenience, which required urgent fixing.
A responsibility of central government, but, years of neglect, has become a web of frustrations residents are caught in.
Deplorable roads
“Anytime I ply the route, I hold the fear of visiting the mechanic shop in a couple of weeks. The road is in a terrible state,” Korang Ebenezer, a commercial driver in Awaso, lamented.
According to him, the cost of maintenance of his vehicle has increased as a result.
“We make little in income because of the money that goes to maintaining the car,” he said.
Adwoa Kwartengmaa, who retails roasted plantain along the stretch, said the state of the road has impacted her business.
Despite the health implications, she said is compelled to continue plying her trade along the stretch in order to feed the family.
“Doctors have warned me against the continuous exposure to the dust, but if I stop this business, I don’t know how I will fend for my children,” she added.
A journey which ordinarily would take three minutes, motorists now spend 10 minutes navigating it.
Any bump in any of the ditches is a trail of frustration about when the terrible road will be fixed.
Battling with dust
Philomena Akwa, a resident of Awaso, is on the verge of losing her sight.
It all started with paying little attention to the dust particles that made it to her room. But, like many residents, they lived oblivious of the cost they will pay someday.
When she began experiencing irritation in her eyes, she reported to the clinic. However, the eye drops prescribed by medics did little to improve her condition. Soon, her sight was gradually slipping out of her hands.
She was advised by doctors to vacate her home. But, a place she toiled for years to build with her husband, isn’t one she could part with.
The inevitable cost is her gradual blindness. Without medicated glasses, she is unable to see properly.
Though the claim by Philomena and other residents exposed to dust is not backed by any medical report, Dr. Samira Bogobiri of TruWorth Specialist Clinic, asserts that long exposure to dust could result in permanent damage to the eye.
Inadequate desks
On 2nd October last year, 10 basic school heads wrote to the Ghana Bauxite Company. Their plea was simple.
If they could get a few desks and teaching materials, the face of teaching would never be the same in the various schools.
But, six months after they submitted the petition, they are awaiting for it to be acknowledged. When the news team visited some of these schools, desks meant for two children, are being occupied by three or four pupils.
Chairman of the Parents Teachers Association of Awaso Roman Catholic D/A School, Kweku Aseye, says some children have to carry kitchen stools from homes to avoid sitting on bare floor to learn.
Limited places of convenience
Already feeling neglected, when the community’s public toilet was declared a danger to its users and required closure, the community decided to play God hoping help will come soon when nature calls.
But that call every morning leaves them with another burden of long walks. More burdensome for 52-year-old Ano Mary, who relied on the public toilet for daily sustenance.
She is now at a loss as to where her next meal may come from.
Auditor general’s report
The Ghana Bauxite Company has been in existence for 80 years. Bauxite, a mineral critical to the low-carbon transition, is used in the frames of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, the chassis of electric cars, and the nacelles and platforms of wind turbines.
According to the auditor general’s report, despite the million tonnes of bauxite mined from Awaso every year, the mining company has consistently not paid dividends to the government.
A corporate behaviour, experts say, could undermine government’s ability to deliver development in places like Awaso. This came to light when the government set up the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) in 2019 to develop and promote Ghana’s Integrated Aluminium Industry.
Though the mining firm reported profits for 2019 and 2020 after a decade of reporting losses, it witnessed significant losses in the year 2021.
According to the auditor general’s report, its review of taxpayers’ files for 2022, the Ghana Bauxite Company did not pay royalties to tune of GHc3,483,420.11. This is against the reality of the mining firm making a profit of $4,792,000 in 2019, $4,596,000 in 2020, 24,287,000 in 2021.
Managers of GIADEC blamed the lack of transparency and accountability by the company’s management, which disadvantaged the minority shareholder as well as government’s representative on the company’s board.
Response from management of Ghana Bauxite Company
General Manager of the company, Alex Gyedu, said they have proven that the indigenous Ghanaian is capable is turning the fortunes of the Ghana Bauxite Company around.
“Check with the Ghana Revenue Authority, we have cleared the unpaid royalties and all statutory requirements,” he asserted.
According to him, they have had community engagement with the catchment community on their needs and will soon focus on changing the lives of people.
“The community relations officer is a huge step in determining the needs of the community. This is to learn what the community wants and design tailor-made interventions,” he added.
My. Gyedu stressed that, in the past, their corporate social responsibility efforts focused on infrastructure development, such as supporting the Awaso community to construct a modern chief palace among others.
“We have also supported the Atronso and Subri communities to build boreholes and drains. We have also met with the chiefs to learn of their needs to enable us to factor their needs into our corporate social responsibility,” he explained.
Interventions by the Ghana Bauxite Company
The general manager disclosed that, currently they provide subsidized healthcare for the Awaso community and offer job opportunities to the teeming unemployed youth including industrial attachment, national service opportunity.
He explained that, when they took over the reins of the company, the staff strength was 483, but they have increased it to 1,158 workers.
Touching on the dusty roads, My Gyedu indicated that they ensure that their sprinklers water the roads.
He said their goal is to transform lives and improve the welfare of the local community.
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