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Mr Clement Kumado, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Sub Committee on Poverty Reduction, has said mining companies were partners in development and they should not be seen as the sole agents of developing communities. He said in as much as mining was important to the economy of the country �Our major concern is that the livelihood and standard of living of the people in the mining communities are protected.� Mr. Kumado said this when committee members met management of Golden Star Bogoso-Prestea Limited, assembly members, opinion leaders as well as chiefs at Bogoso in the Prestea-Huni Valley District in the Western Region. The members were on a fact finding mission to know how the company operates, its programme for alternative livelihood, challenges and the way forward. Mr. Rammy Oboro-O�fferie, the Community Affairs and Sustainable Development Manager of Golden Star Bogoso-Prestea Limited (GSBPL), said the company liaises with the community to agree on projects that would be beneficial to them. �We do not impose projects on them since they are seen as partners in the development of our company�, he said. He said a Community Development Fund had been set up with the aim of initiating projects and support to the communities. The company also gives scholarships to brilliant but needy students in the communities in which it operate. It has built the Prestea Police Station, Himan Community Centre, and Prestea Post office among others. Mr Oboro-O�fferie said all development projects are given to locally registered contractors within the operational area. He mentioned child labour, illegal mining operation, high expectation of local communities for employment, illegal mining on the company�s property as some of the challenges facing the company. Mr. Isaac Quarm, the Project Manager of Golden Star Oil Palm Plantation, a subsidiary of the GSBPL, said the company has employed over 300 people to work on 744 hectares. He said the oil palm plantation, which was established in 2006, is to promote the development of palm plantation in the mining area. He said the plantation was in partnership with the chiefs in the area and urged development partners to support this initiative for it to grow.