The Gold Fields Ghana Foundation has pushed back against recent public claims questioning its corporate social responsibility record, insisting it has made substantial investments in its host communities despite choosing not to publicise individual beneficiaries.
Speaking on the sidelines of a medical outreach programme at Brahabobom on Saturday, Executive Secretary of the Foundation, Abdel Razak Yakubu, said it was “surprising” that some public commentary suggested the mining company had not been active in community development
“It has come to us as quite a surprise, the comments that recently have been in the media that Gold Fields… has not been implementing any corporate social responsibility programmes,” he said.
Mr Yakubu said the Foundation has invested more than US$109.5 million in education, health, sports and other community development initiatives across its catchment areas, but stressed that it deliberately avoids “parading” beneficiaries for publicity purposes.
“We don’t want to invest the money that is voted for community development to be doing PR,” he said.
He added that while the organisation shares updates through its website and social media platforms, it avoids publicly showcasing individuals who benefit from its interventions, particularly in sensitive areas such as health.
“If we do this medical outreach programme and we save two lives, it’s very difficult for you to find those two lives in five years to come and give testimony,” he said, citing human dignity as a key reason for its communication approach.
Mr Yakubu said the impact of the Foundation’s programmes is often reflected in improved economic activity within mining communities, pointing to small-scale trading and local infrastructure improvements.
He referenced projects such as the Nana Ngo bypass road in Tarkwa, named after a late traditional leader, which he said has helped ease traffic congestion in the area.
“That road has eased traffic. If it wasn’t because of that, what we see currently would have been worse,” he said.
He also cited ongoing works on the Budo Junction–Bogoso Junction road, as well as the Awodriya–Awodriya Junction road, describing them as part of broader efforts to improve connectivity in the Western Region.
Mr Yakubu further highlighted social infrastructure projects, including a 360-bed girls’ dormitory at Puni Valley Senior High School, saying the intervention is aimed at improving access to education.
“We can count the projects one after the other,” he said, urging critics to engage directly with community members rather than rely solely on public perceptions.
He maintained that beneficiaries are best placed to assess the Foundation’s impact, adding that its focus remains on long-term community development rather than publicity. Enditem
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