Western North Regional Minister, Wilbert Petty Brentum, has commended Asante Gold Corporation for its continued support to the region, particularly in the areas of education and community development.

He lauded the company’s development initiatives, highlighting its contributions to youth training, scholarship opportunities, and community engagement.

He particularly expressed gratitude for the company’s ongoing efforts to uplift the educational standards of its catchment communities.

“Education is the foundation for the future, and Asante Gold Corporation’s support is making a significant difference,” the Minister said while commissioning a refurbished six-unit classroom block at the Anyinasie M/A Basic School in the Bibiani Anwhiaso Bekwai Municipality, sponsored by the Finance Department of Asante Gold Corporation.

General Manager of Asante Gold Chirano Limited, Stephen Asante Yamoah, stated that the renovation reflected the company’s commitment to the provision of educational excellence and supporting the development of human resources in the company’s host communities.

He said at the beginning of the 2024/2025 academic year, Asante Gold Chirano launched a special initiative under the banner ‘My First Day at School’.

“Every department in the company adopted a basic school in one of our 20 catchment communities, making donations of educational materials and spending time with the children to support their return to school,” he explained.

The Finance, Supply Chain, and IT Departments chose Anyinasie Basic School. But what started as a simple act of kindness grew into something much bigger. Upon visiting the school, the employees were met with distressing conditions, classrooms plagued by bats, roofs leaking during rainfall, ceilings caving in, and walls cracking from age and neglect.

From their own resources, and with support from the company, they undertook a complete renovation of the school. The entire roof and ceiling were replaced. The bat infestation was eliminated. The damaged walls and floors were repaired. And the school was given a fresh coat of paint to create a clean, safe, and inspiring learning environment.

“This renovation is just the beginning of a lasting relationship between our Finance Department and the Anyinasie Basic School. ‘My First Day at School’ is now an annual commitment by all our departments to support and engage with schools in our catchment areas,” said Mr. Yamoah.

The headteacher of the school and Assembly Member for Surano electoral area, Atta Francis, expressed his appreciation for the company’s donation, noting that the school had not received any major maintenance since 2006.

He appealed to the Bibiani Anwhiaso Bekwai Education Directorate to provide the school with an additional KG block and more teachers to enhance the quality of education.