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The Chirano Gold Mines has completed a number of development projects at a total cost of about US$1.3 million to help raise the living standards of the people in the communities, where it operates. These include clinics and nurses quarters, community-based health planning and services (CHPS) compounds, classroom blocks, information communication technology (ICT) centres, libraries and mechanized boreholes. Paboase, Ntretrenso, Nsuosua, Akoti, Etwebo and Chirano are among the communities that have benefitted from these projects. Mr Ken Norris, General Manager of the Mines, said the Mine, which has been extracting gold in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District and the Sefwi-Wiaso Municipality, has also been engaged in routine maintenance of some of the feeder roads. Speaking at the inauguration of a clinic built at Chirano, he said those facilities were financed from a special Trust Fund, set up to support the development of the communities. For every ounce of gold produced, one US dollar is put into the Fund and this had gone on since year 2004. The construction of the health facilities, he noted, were significantly helping to promote quality health care delivery and appealed for the posting of more health professionals to work in the area. Mr Norris said apart from the physical structures, his company, had sponsored mass registration of the people in some selected communities for the National Health Insurance (NHIS). He encouraged the youth to make good use of the libraries and the ICT centres to become competitive on the job market. Mr Adansi Bondah, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai, gave the company high marks for the significant contribution it was making to lift the people out of poverty. Okogyeabuo Nana Kwaku Gyapong II, Omanhene of Chirano, said the people now have access to quality education and healthcare.