Dr. Yaw Asamoah, a lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba’s Geography Department, emphasizes the importance of promptly relocating residents of the farming communities Dampso and Yarogruma near the Newmont Ahafo South mine. This would facilitate educational opportunities for school-aged children in the region by providing them with convenient access to schools.
Dr. Yaw Asamoah explains that the operations of the mine are hindering the education of children in the two neighboring communities, known as “fence line communities,” and in surrounding settlements in the Asutifi North District of the Ahafo Region.
Dr. Yaw Asamoah, a lecturer at the Geography Department of the University of Education, Winneba, shared his insights during a stakeholders meeting held at Kenyasi Number Two. The meeting was arranged to disseminate the findings of Dr. Asamoah’s research on the impact of mining-induced displacement on the education of school-going age children in the fence line communities of Newmont’s Asutifi North District. The research was commissioned by WACAM, a civil society and human rights advocacy organization.
Dr. Asamoah pointed out that the long distance of 7.32 kilometers that 104 school children from Dampso, Yarogruma, and other settlements have to travel to attend school at Kenyasi is affecting school enrolment, retention, and performance. He acknowledged that the mine had provided a bus, however, the lack of consistency in picking up the children to and from school and the poor road conditions during rainy seasons only exacerbates the situation.
Dr Asamoah highlighted that in order to ensure a successful education journey for the children in the mining communities, they will require basic educational resources such as books, uniforms, school bags, and scholarships to keep them motivated. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of providing chargeable lamps for evening studying and sanitary pads for the school-going girls to maintain good personal hygiene.
Dr Asamoah has made recommendations to the Asutifi North District Assembly and the District Directorate of Education to take action to support the education of school-going-age children in the area. He highlights the need for educational materials, scholarships, chargeable lamps, and sanitary pads for the school girls. He also suggests that the three schools in the area be enrolled in the school feeding program.
In response to the call for resettlement, Mr Emmanuel Ato Aubyn, the Social Responsibility Manager at Newmont Ahafo South Mine, noted that the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) must conduct an impact assessment in the communities before any action can be taken by the mine.
Mrs. Naomi Asantewaa, the Asutifi North District Director of Education, praised WACAM for conducting the research and noted that her directorate is actively working towards getting the schools enrolled in the school feeding program for the benefit of the students.
The Executive Associate Director of WACAM, Mrs. Hannah Owusu-Koranteng, noted that her organization began operations when exploration was underway in the area and highlighted that the mine’s operations have had a negative impact on the affected communities. Meanwhile, the Asutifi North District Coordinating Director, Mr. Samuel Badu Baiden, expressed his hope that all stakeholders in the area would work together to tackle the challenges and encouraged residents to be patient. The Asutifi North District Director of Education, Mrs. Naomi Asantewaa, praised WACAM for conducting the research and emphasized the directorate’s efforts to ensure that the schools participate in the school feeding program.