Some 110 women at Gbane in the Talenisi district of the Upper East Region, have received a sewing machine each from Shaanxi Mining Ghana Limited, a mining company operating in the area.

The company which provides mine support services to two local licensed small-scale miners in the area made the donation to the women as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.

The women who are from within Gbane and neighbouring communities were identified as women who had either learnt a trade in fashion but lacked the sewing machines to start their own businesses or they had the desire to learn the skill but could not afford the machines required to start the training.

It is hoped that the sewing machines will help the women to finally achieve their various ambitions in the skill of fashion, rather than go down to the mining area to trade or engage in illegal surface mining which is also common in the area.

Public Relations Officer for Shaanxi Mining, Maxwell Wooma said some women in the area often take their infant children along with them to the mining area, where they do their petty trading – a situation which could have a negative impact on the well – being of the children.

He said the donation of the sewing machines therefore, was the company’s way of helping the mothers start businesses elsewhere away from the mining environment with their little children.

Mr. Wooma, added that the Shanxii Mining Company has also employed 700 Ghanaians permanently.

The company, he said; “operates with the cardinal principles of economic sustainability, environmental responsibility as well as social responsibility”.

The Upper East Regional Minister, Tangoba Abayage who was a special guest for the occasion, urged the Shaanxi Mining Company to ensure that it continues to carry out its operations in tandem with the laws of the country and also work in harmony with the people of the community.

“Given the important nature of Corporate Social Responsibility, it cannot be substituted for other designed programs or agreements entered into by any business that is truly interested in the growth of the community in which it operates”, Abayage said.

Some of the women who received the sewing the machines expressed gratitude to the Shaanxii Mining Company.

Evelyn Adongo, one of the beneficiaries said; “I wanted to learn how to sew but I could not buy the machine so I am grateful to the Shaanxii people for giving me this machine”.