Asanko Gold Mine’s 5-Year Plan Aims to Transform Health, Education, and Livelihoods in Amansie West and South Districts

In a bold move to address deep-rooted development challenges in its host communities, Asanko Gold Mine has officially launched a comprehensive Five-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) targeting improvements in healthcare, education, sanitation, livelihoods, and infrastructure within the Amansie West and Amansie South Districts.

The unveiling ceremony, held at the Manso Nkwanta District Assembly Hall, attracted a large and diverse audience made up of traditional rulers, District Chief Executives, assembly members, civil society leaders, religious figures, women’s and youth groups, and senior officers from the Ghana Police Service. The event signaled a strong multi-stakeholder commitment to a new phase of development anchored in collaboration, accountability, and local empowerment.

Delivering the keynote address, the General Manager of Asanko Gold Mine, Mr. Ahmed Mohadini-Yahaya, described the SEDP as a game-changing roadmap grounded in data and shaped by the voices of the very communities the company operates in. According to him, the plan stems from a detailed Community Needs Assessment conducted in November 2024, which highlighted urgent gaps in access to basic social amenities, youth employment, environmental sustainability, and public health systems.

“Over the years, we have made significant community investments, but we must admit that the impact has often been scattered,” Mr. Mohadini-Yahaya stated. “The SEDP represents a turning point — a deliberate and strategic shift toward structured, measurable, and inclusive development.”

He emphasized that the plan’s focus areas were carefully chosen to reflect pressing community needs and align with national and international development frameworks, including Ghana’s Medium-Term Development Policy Framework and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key sectors to benefit from the plan include health, education, water and sanitation, agriculture, local enterprise development, and social inclusion, particularly for women, youth, and persons with disabilities.

In the area of health, Mr. Mohadini-Yahaya said the plan would support the rehabilitation of clinics, provision of medical supplies and equipment, and training for healthcare workers. On education, the SEDP aims to renovate dilapidated school infrastructure, expand classroom space, offer scholarships to brilliant but needy students, and provide teaching and learning materials to underserved schools.

Under livelihood and economic empowerment, the plan will fund youth skills development initiatives, support small business startups, and introduce agribusiness programs that help farmers increase productivity and access markets. Access to clean drinking water, household toilets, and hygiene education will also be scaled up to combat diseases related to poor sanitation.

The initiative drew praise from key local authorities, including Hon. Prince Manu Moris, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Amansie West, and Hon. Benjamin Marfo, DCE for Amansie South. Both commended Asanko Gold Mine for listening to community concerns and translating them into a concrete strategy.

Hon. Manu Moris urged the mining company to ensure equity in project distribution, noting that some communities have long felt neglected despite being close to mining operations.

“We’ve seen development concentrated in a few towns while others continue to suffer. This must change,” he said. “Let the impact of this plan be felt from the remotest village to the busiest town.”

Hon. Marfo stressed the importance of partnership and synchronization between the company’s plan and the development blueprints of the District Assemblies. “Development should not be done in silos. We must work hand in hand, consult frequently, and remain transparent in all dealings,” he advised.

Traditional leaders, who are custodians of the land and culture in the area, echoed similar sentiments. Chiefs such as Okofo Nana Boakye Yiadom I of Manso Subinso and Nana Yaw Sarfo Boateng II of Manso Kumpese commended the initiative but reminded Asanko Gold Mine of the importance of regular dialogue and trust-building.

Nana Boakye Yiadom I called for the creation of local oversight committees made up of chiefs, youth leaders, and assembly representatives to monitor progress and hold all actors accountable. “We welcome the SEDP, but we want to see more than words. We want to see clinics built, schools renovated, and jobs created for our people,” he declared.

The event was also marked by calls from community stakeholders for quarterly reviews and public scorecards to track the delivery of promises made in the plan. Representatives from civil society organizations, religious bodies, and youth associations emphasized that ownership of the plan must remain with the people and not just the company or government officials.

Security personnel present at the event pledged their support for the peaceful implementation of the plan, recognizing that security and development are interdependent in mining communities.

As the curtains drew on the well-attended event, the atmosphere was one of renewed hope and cautious optimism. The SEDP has raised expectations — but it has also ignited a spirit of collaboration and shared responsibility that could define a new era of corporate-community relations in the Amansie enclave.

For Asanko Gold Mine, the message from the community was clear: the plan is welcomed, but results will be the true measure of commitment. And for the people of Amansie, the next five years could prove to be the most transformative in recent memory — if promises are turned into purposeful action.