Thirteen small and medium-scale businesses at Kenyasi Number Two in the Asutifi District of the Ahafo Region have received a total of Gh.c 1,850,000.00 to scale up their businesses, enhance their productivity and boost economic activities in the area.
Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation (NADeF), the lead implementer of corporate social responsibility initiatives of Newmont Ahafo Mine, is giving out this amount to the 13 carefully selected businesses under one of its focus areas – economic empowerment.
The beneficiaries, who are mostly women, are into wholesale and retail businesses, and were given amounts ranging from Gh.c 50,000 to 300,000, depending on the nature of one’s business venture.
Making the presentation at NADeF’s office at Ntotroso, Prof. Yaw Ofosu-Kusi, the Chairman of the NADeF Board of Trustees, said since its inception in 2008, the Foundation has remained steadfast in its mandate to translate Newmont Ghana Gold Limited’s corporate social responsibility vision into tangible and lasting development outcomes.
He said NADeF has in the past 17 years implemented a wide range of programs and projects across Kenyasi Number One, Kenyasi Number Two, Ntotroso, Gyedu, Wamahinso, Yamfo, Susuanso, Afrisipakrom, Terchire, and Adrobaa.
These initiatives, he explained, have touched lives in areas such as Social Amenities & Infrastructural Development, Cultural Heritage; Environmental Management; Sports; and Youth Development and, of course, economic empowerment.
Prof. Ofosu-Kusi reminded the beneficiaries that the amount given them is not a gift but an investment in their businesses, adding that: “These funds are expected to help you scale up your operations, enhance your productivity, and increase your impact.”
“This is not the first time we have done this, and by no means will it be the last. Over the years, NADeF has supported small and medium enterprises with over Gh.c 9.7 million in agriculture, manufacturing, services, and trade under its Economic Empowerment module. And the results have been very amazing as promising jobs have been created, supply chains have been strengthened, and local economies stimulated”, the Board Chairman stated.
For her part, the Executive Secretary of NADeF, Elizabeth Opoku-Darko, asked the beneficiaries to ensure sound financial management, strategic investment, and timely repayment of the credit facility.
She said NADeF will provide technical support, business development services, and monitoring to ensure that this initiative yields the intended impact, saying: “We do not just want to disburse funds—we want to walk with you on your journey to success.”
She commended the Kenyasi Number Sustainable Development Committee (SDC), the traditional authorities, opinion leaders, and all other stakeholders for their continued support and partnership. Your guidance and collaboration are vital to the success of all our initiatives.
The Kenyasi Number Two SDC Chairman, Gabriel Adu-Bonsu, thanked NADeF for the assistance and added his voice to the call on the beneficiaries to religiously go be the repayment schedule to enable others to also benefit.
One of the beneficiaries, Madam Evelyn Osei Kuffuor, who is the CEO of Berlyna Enterprise, was full of praise to NADeF for the intervention, saying: “This will enable me to undertake massive expansion of my business in the medium to long term.”
