The donation was presented by NLA’s Director-General, Mohammed Abdul Salam, to the Upper West Regional Minister, Charles Lwanga Puozuing.

Speaking on the donation, the Director-General emphasized that this contribution is part of the NLA’s corporate social responsibility, particularly in light of the severity of the outbreak.

He expressed confidence that the GH¢100,000 would provide a significant boost to the region’s health teams in managing the crisis.

The Regional Minister expressed deep appreciation to the Good Causes Foundation, the NLA’s charitable arm, for the generous contribution.

He highlighted that the funds would be used to treat those affected by CSM and save lives.

Minister Puozuing revealed that 14 lives have already been lost to the disease, with over 70 confirmed cases in the region.

He also noted that the situation has been worsened by the absence of valid National Health Insurance cards among many residents.

The funds will be directed towards the purchase of antibiotics for those diagnosed with CSM, as well as for contact tracing and public education efforts to raise awareness about the disease in the coming months.

Additionally, the Regional Minister announced that a fund would be established to allow individuals and organizations to donate through the Upper West Regional Coordination Council to further support the ongoing response to the outbreak.

Shenzhen-listed gold mining firm Beijing Xiaocheng Technology Stock Co disclosed in its half-year financial report released on Wednesday that “five to six” suspects had been arrested and detained at a police station in Ghana.

Security agencies in the West African nation were “still searching for the whereabouts of the gold”, according to the company.

Africa has been a major investment destination for Chinese companies seeking minerals and resources overseas, but there are growing concerns over the security risks, and Beijing has vowed to ramp up protection for workers and assets abroad.

Beijing Xiaocheng, which is engaged in gold mining, production, processing and sales, said Ghanaian security agencies had issued a bounty for the arrest of those responsible for the robbery on April 18.

It said 11 people were believed to be involved in the armed attack on the Chinese company’s subsidiary, Akroma Gold Mining Co, in Esaase, in the Kwahu West municipality of Ghana’s eastern region.

The company said Akroma reinforced security measures at the gold mine after the attack.

According to local media reports in April, heavily armed assailants targeted the company’s processing area, stealing gold and assaulting and injuring several workers, including Chinese expatriates.

Beijing Xiaocheng said the attackers, who were wearing masks, broke into the Akroma processing plant from an undeveloped area of the mine.

It said workers at the mine, including Chinese citizens, were injured after security personnel were overpowered but there were no fatalities.

The robbers fled with 12kg of gold that was to be exported that day, causing a direct economic loss of US$900,000, according to the financial report.

Beijing Xiaocheng, which owns three gold mines in Ghana, said the Akroma mine had resumed normal business activities after the attack.

The company also has solar power generation projects including a 20MW photovoltaic power station in Ghana that has been operating for over a decade.

Gold is Ghana’s top export, earning the country US$9.53 billion in 2022, according to Observatory of Economic Complexity data. Nearly half of Ghana’s gold is exported to the United Arab Emirates, while Switzerland, India and Hong Kong are all major buyers.

www.scmp.com

The attack, which took place around 2 a.m., involved four masked assailants armed with machetes and scissors.

The robbers made away with GH¢ 100,000, two laptops, and two mobile phones. Neighbors discovered Osei in a pool of blood after he screamed for help and promptly rescued him.

Meanwhile, a police team led by Superintendent Kwabena Darkoh, the Central North Regional Police Crime Officer, arrived swiftly at the scene, but the suspects had already fled.

Nonetheless, the officers recovered the machete and scissors used in the attack, which are being kept as evidence.

Following the initial response, Central North Regional Commander DCOP Emmanuel Teye Cudjoe and his team visited the hospital to evaluate Osei’s injuries.

The incident has left the community in shock. The police investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.

This attack highlights the increasing need for enhanced security measures in the region, especially for individuals handling large sums of money.

The community is now grappling with fear and uncertainty in the wake of this violent crime.

MORE: 

• One reported dead, others injured in accident on Accra-Kumasi Highway
• Minority blocks laying of L.I. to regulating cement pricing
• I was fit when AG asked me to secure fake excuse duty – Jakpa tells court