Earl International Group Gold Ltd constructs magnificent school complex in Gbane community
A mining Company operating in Talensi of the Gbane community in the Upper East Region known as Earl International Group Gold Ltd has commissioned a magnificent school building block in the Gbane community. The construction of the Gbane Community Basic School Complex, started 3 years ago by the company, is a 12-unit 1-story classroom block fully furnished with 300 mono-desks and state-of-the-art facilities. Handing over the school to the District Education Directorate, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Earl International Group Gold Ltd Wei Xing said, as for them, children are always their future and hope. According to the CEO, they deeply understand the importance of education, especially for the next generation of the community. The reason for their decision to build the magnificent school block is part of our corporate social responsibility to the community and to create a safe, warm, and hopeful learning environment for the children. He encourage the community to continue with their support to the company, as he gave further assurance that his outfit will continue to undertake more of such projects in line with its corporate social responsibilities. “We firmly believe that as our company continues to grow and prosper, we will do our utmost best to undertake more social responsibilities and give back to the local community and Ghana government. We earnestly request your continued trust and support for the company”. Wei Xing stressed The Regional Minister who was at the ceremony lauded Earl International Group Gold Ltd and the CEO for putting what he described as a magnificent school building in the community. Using himself as an example, he said he wouldn’t have a regional minister without education. “Education is so crucial and so important and every day, I used myself as an example, if I didn’t go to school, where will I have been? I wouldn’t of course be standing here as a regional Minister, I wouldn’t. So, education is key”. “And as a northerner, it is only particular thing that I believe can cut out our level of poverty and that is education. So today, if the wisdom of Earl they have given this magnificent building then they need applauses”. “I am very sure, that for years to come, there are definitely going to be people from here who will be DCEs, who will be Ministers, who probably will be President of the country because of this school”. He tasked the District Chief Executive for Talensi, Thomas Duanab Wuni to ensure that every child of the Gbene community is in school. “The NPP Government, seeing the importance of education brought in Free Senior High School (FSHS) and for that matter now, even if you don’t have, you can always enroll yourself into education and that, you will be given a chance in life also to become someone one day and that is why our party brought in free education. I and sure that our fathers here will make sure that any little child from this community goes to school. I will ask my DCE to check this, to make sure all the children in the Gbene area my junior brothers, my daughters, and my sons will be in this community school and other schools that are within because is very key that is only education can help us develop. “So, lets us together work and when they go wrong, let us correct them so that together we will be peaceful and grow together”. The District Chief Executive for Talensi, Thomas Duanab Wuni also used the opportunity to extend an appeal to the company to incorporate the Chinese Language into the school’s curriculum and support the professional development of teachers as well as provide meals and all other facilities that will enhance teaching and learning for the school progress. He further, tasked the education directorate to put the facility to good use and ensure good results. Meanwhile, the company’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Ebenezer Bognaab also used the medium to outline some of the efforts of the company’s contributions to the community. He said the company has employed over one thousand workers and the majority from the community. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0256336062
CEPIL concludes training of 50 paralegals for 2 regions in the Upper East
A Rights-based law firm that provides free legal representation and service to communities and other indigenes who cannot afford legal services that is a non-profitable organization headed by the Executive Director Center for Public Interest Law (CEPIL) Lawyer. Augustine Niber has concluded training for 50 paralegals in the Upper East Region. Engaging the media during the training workshop, Lawyer Niber said, they have been providing training on Human Rights and para-legalism to communities. According to him, the present program that they undertake here in the region is a paralegal training program that started 2 years ago with support from the FORD Foundation in building the capacity of community groups, opinion leaders, and community representatives from Upper East and Upper West on mining-related issues for person and district where mining is currently taking place. He stated that, “The basic requirement for the program is to train these paralegals to serve as vocal persons in communities and they are to play a kind of liaison role between their communities and other Civil Society Organizations and try as much as they can to serve as the voice of a community in bringing up mining-related issues and generally equip them with some basic legal knowledge that will support them as vocal persons in their communities and also provide them with some level of cost-effective to basic legal services to their communities”. The 50 paralegals comprise two regions and 5 districts Talensi, Nabdam, and Zebilla in the Upper East Region, and participants from the Nadowli and Wa East districts in the Upper West Region. Meanwhile, throwing more light on the training workshop, Laywer Niber explained, that one must complete the three modules before he or she is certified, “There are three modules for the training before one can be certified as a paralegal. The first module took place in Tamale in 2022, and the second module took place in the Upper West Region and what is happening in Bolga is the Third and last module and after which will certify them. The director explained He added, that the response they have gotten from those they have trained is already positive, because they have indicated the knowledge they have acquired from issues of mining including the right they were educated on. He believes, they now approach issues based on informed position and based on the advancement of what they have learned. “They are expected to create the awareness in their communities from the training they have had and also to enable demand respect for their rights and protect their rights within the context of mining activities in their communities”. However, asking what the next step will be for CEPIL, the Executive Director said, they will be doing a follow-up to ascertain the extent to which the trained paralegals are using the knowledge in their communities and also add that, when necessary, they may be organizing refresher programs for new things might come up. Chairman Savannah Research and Advocacy Network (SRAN) Mr. Nyeya Yen expressed satisfaction with the education provided so far by the Center for Public Interest Law (CEPIL) to persons from mining communities in the northern parts of the country. Mr. Nyeya, is optimistic that the training will produce good results, especially in tackling and managing issues that could result in conflict and as well as help community member understand their rights “Sometimes, the mining companies enter a community without following due process. Sometimes, some of these mining companies walk in and start mining and sometimes they walk into the community and give just a fowl to the landowners for them to do their sacrifices to enable start mining. Sometimes, what they called community entry, they may just meet with the District Chief Executive (DCE) and probably talk to the chiefs and start mining without talking to the community but as an activist in the community you should be able to let them do the right thing”. He stressed “So, we expect these categories of people who are trained as paralegals to help engage the community, engage the chiefs, and engage the Tindanas to guarantee a better deal”. Chief Operating Officer of TAMA Foundation Jonathan Adabre Akatue said, all the 50 activists have been trained on, issues of compensation, resettlement, environmental safety, and more. According to him, the importance of this training is that, it will guide communities, citizens in mining communities on what they need to do when mining is taking place, the responsibility of the mining company, the responsibility of the state regulator which is the Mineral Commission, the responsibility of the Assembly, the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency and the responsibility of many other actors who play a role in mining. He was satisfied that so far, the results from the field are encouraging and the majority of them have taken steps to deal with resettlement discussions, to deal with compensation matters and it is for the good of all of us as citizens of this nation. However, before awarding certificates to the trainees, the Executive Director of CEPIL cautioned all qualified candidates not to misuse their opportunity by using the certificate acquired from the training to engage in any form of illegality. If I hear anything, I will be the first to report you to the police and I will be the first to testify on the case. As I said, you are to use this knowledge to benefit your community. Don’t go and use it to solicit funds. If I hear that you have collected money to take or provide any kind of advice, I will be the first to report you to the police and am serious about it. He warned “I have not trained you to use your knowledge to cheat your community”. On behalf of the 50 trained paralegals, Mr. Sapak of SRAN extended their gratitude to the staff and the Executive Director Center for Public Interest Law (CEPIL) Lawyer. Augustine Niber for taking through mining law that will help guide them in their various