Beneficiaries of AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine’s Teberebie Vegetable Project in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region have lauded the mining company for the initiative,

Describing the project as successful, the farmers testified that it has boosted their income levels and also improved their livelihoods.

The Teberebie Vegetable Cooperative Project is part of other initiatives Iduapriem Mine is undertaking to respond to the increasing unemployment situation within its host communities. 

The first phase which began in January 2018, involved 14 farmers, who cultivated vegetables including cabbage, green pepper, lettuce, carrot, cucumber among others and watermelon on  an eight-acre land.

The next phase of the project will be expanded to cover 20 community farmers who are expected to cultivate vegetables on  a 20-acre land. 

A beneficiary, Mr Moses Hagor, expressed his gratitude for the mine’s support and urged the company to extend the project to cover many other farmers to boost their income levels in the Tarkwa -Nsuaem Municipality.

“For me this project has really been a blessing. I have been able to build a house from the sales I made.  Mr Hagor revealed.

At a brief ceremony on Tuesday, to present GH¢40,000  being proceeds from sale of vegetables to the farmers, the Senior Manager – Sustainability of Iduapriem Mine, Mr Stephen Adjei, congratulated the farmers for the hard work and unrelenting effort in ensuring the success of the first phase of the project. 

“Knowing the challenges that you faced in the beginning, I am extremely happy to see you succeed in this project. Indeed, I have no doubt that if you demonstrate the same zeal and commitment in the next phase, another remarkable success would be chalked.” he noted.

Speaking on behalf of the community, the Chief of Teberebie, Nana Kojo Minnah II, thanked Iduapriem Mine for the project and assured management of their unflinching support and cooperation.

He, however, advised the beneficiaries to invest their money wisely, work harder than before “and trumpet their success stories particularly to the youth.” 

The Municipal Agriculture Officer of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Mr Karol Senker, pledged his outfit’s readiness to partner Iduapriem Mine for such initiatives as they were in line with the government’s Planting for Food and Jobs Agenda.

He indicated that the MOFA would continue to provide the technical assistance and support to ensure the successful implementation of the full project cycle.

Source: Ghanaian Times