AngloGold Ashanti (Iduapriem) Limited (AAIL), has handed over two six-unit classroom blocks to Awudua Methodist and New Tokunaso basic schools in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality.

The Awudua Methodist basic school building which is now Nana Kobina Angu II block was built by AAIL at a total cost of GH?600,000.00, while the New Tokunaso basic school was funded by the AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Community Trust Fund at about GH?745,000.00.

The two facilities have a modernised head teacher's office, staff common room, storeroom, washroom, and a mechanized borehole.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Acting Managing Director of AAIL, Engineer Isaac Boakye Aduenin, explained that on the Awudua Methodist basic school project, the chief and elders of Apinto Divisional Stool requested the Mine to renovate the structure which was in a deplorable state.

He said after an assessment was carried out by the Mine's on the facility, they found it necessary to construct a new school block to replace the dilapidated one which had lots of safety implications but over 385 pupils were occupying it.

On the New Tokunaso school building, Mr Aduenin said, it would not only eliminate the dangers associated with pupils walking along the Tarkwa-Bogoso highway to school but also benefit pupils in the nearby communities to have access to quality basic education.

He commended the Trust Fund Board and the Mines for their continuous interest to assist in the development of AAIL stakeholder communities.

"We strongly believe that with the handing over of these facilities, attendance would improve, the interest of pupils in learning would eventually translate into their quality of education and academic performance," he said.

The Acting Managing Director emphasized that the two projects they commissioned were part of some interventions the Mine has undertaken recently as part of their continued efforts to make the communities in which they operate better off.

He thanked Ramoth, one of their local sub-contractors, for presenting one hundred pieces of furniture to the New Tokunaso basic school.

Mr Aduenin also expressed appreciation to the leadership of their host communities and other stakeholders for their continuous support to develop the Mine for the benefit of all.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Prestea Huni-Valley, Dr Isaac Dasmani, appealed to parents to send their children to school to justify the massive investments AAIL was making to improve education in its catchment communities.

Nana Adarkwa Bediako III, Gyasehene of Apinto Divisional Council, pleaded with teachers and the beneficiary communities to take good care of the school buildings and the furniture.