Supporting Local Livelihoods

Enhancing Local Value Retention

Golden Star recognizes that vibrant regional communities rely on diversified economies. We continue to focus on supporting our host communities to retain a larger proportion of the value that is derived from the presence of our business.

A key part of our approach is to enhance the capacity of local micro, small and medium enterprises to attract flow-on business that previously would have been directed to larger regional centres away from our host communities.

Supporting Local Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises 

A study by the Prestea Huni-Valley District Assembly Business Advisory Unit identified that access to key business-related equipment for self-employed people would help to increase productivity and improve incomes.

Therefore Golden Star provided support to 432 micro and small business operators from more than 16 associations/industry groups through the donation of over 400 items of equipment.  Here are some examples of the donations:

• 44 agricultural producers received 113 farming tools, including processing machinery, dough mills, and driers
• 75 dress makers and hairdressers received 62 knitting, overlocking and embroidery machines
• 67 hairdressers received driers, sinks, sterilizers and other machinery
• 155 food vendors, bakers, cold store operators and butchers were given 228 tools including food pounders, gas burners, ovens, cooking utensils, tricycles, fur removing gas guns, and cold storage equipment
• 60 automotive garages, wood and metal/aluminum works operators received equipment including electronic automobile diagnostic tools, presses, wood polish spraying guns and sanding machinery
• 31 members of the Prestea Huni Valley District Association of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) were supported with canopies, plastic chairs and generators  for income generating activities

Robert Gyamfi, Community Relations Manager,
inspecting items to be donated

Beneficiaries involved in commercial cookery and food selling

Beneficiaries involved in cold storage

General Manager, Jerry Agala, with other managers

inspecting the items to be donated

What has been the impact?

One of the key impacts of the project has been the boost in productivity and efficiency for local micro, small and medium enterprises and the associated potential for new income streams and diversification. For example, where a taxi driver would previously have had to travel to Tarkwa for electronic fault diagnosis, he can now obtain these services in Prestea.

An added benefit has been the strengthening of  key trade and industry associations. These groups will act as a point of engagement for future entrepreneurs and they will provide peer support, information sharing, and they will enable bulk buying power and cooperative sales. The formation of associations in the agricultural trades is also expected to attract support from District and Regional agricultural authorities for agronomic extension and support.

As part of Golden Star’s support of the community and vulnerable groups, one of the associations that received assistance was the Association of People with Disabilities. This group received event-hosting equipment (such as plastic chairs, canopies and generators) that can be rented to community to generate funds for the association.

A beneficiary collects hair dressing equipment sterilisation unit

What do the recipients think of the program?

Let’s hear from the people who benefited from the equipment donations:

Victoria Kwofie, Cold Store Operator 
“Golden Star gave me a freezer as a way of supporting my business and that has been very helpful to me. It has provided extra space for storage and because it has low power consumption it has reduced my electricity expenses. It has also reduced my transport expenses and increased my sales because now I can buy in larger quantities in just one order. One thing I also liked was the training they gave us on business efficiency and good customer service.  I really appreciate Golden Star for this tremendous effort and for the love they have for the community.”



Ama Amoako, Food Vendor
“I received an iron pot and a gas cylinder which have improved and expanded my business,  increased my revenue and improved my living conditions,  making it easier for me to cater for my family. We pray that the company expands to be able to continue such support in the future. We thank Golden Star for such an initiative.”




Elizabeth Boto, Food Vendor 
“I needed some items to expand my kenkey (a type of local food) business but due to financial constraints, I was not able to buy them. Receiving these items is like a dream come true; I have incresed production, and expanded my business.  Considering the total number of beneficiaries, I believe the donation of the items has and will make a lot of impact and I will urge the company to repeat or organise more programs to support more people.”



Evelyn Arthur, Cold Store Operator 
“I thank Golden Star for these  items. I have been in business for over 5 years and all the fridges I use are old or broken down. At first I didn’t believe it when I heard about the Golden Star program as I thought it wasn’t feasible to support so many people, but Golden Star has again proved me wrong. Now I have a new fridge that allows me to store more and use less power. The donation has decreased my electricity bills, increased my sales, expanded my business and saved me the cost of buying a new fridge. Thank you Golden Star for the great support. Mbo ne edwuma pa.” 


Mohammed Yakubu, Executive - Butchers Association 
“I have worked for 38 years of my life as a butcher but have never seen any company doing this in the community before. Golden Star gave us items such as fridges, gas powered burners, and tricycles. We used to pay for the transport of animals to the slaughter house but with the tricycles we transport our animals with no stress and at no cost. Initially, we were using car tyres to roast the animals but they helped us understand the environmental implications and the health issues related to it and gave us the gas powered burner, which is the best and safest method to use. The fridges also solved the problem of preservation. We are so grateful to Golden Star for making our business grow and for every effort made. We hope that the company expands to continue with the support that has helped so many businesses to stand on their feet.”



Josephine Wilson, Executive- Hairdressers’ Association 
“We thank Golden Star for thinking about the livelihood of the community. We, as an Association, received 9 sterlizers, 4 sinks and 4 dryers which will go a long way to help members of the Association. Some members cannot afford these items and therefore cannot start their own business even though they have the skills. Now the Association has come to a consensus that anyone who comes to use the items must pay a small fee so that the money can be used to purchase more items and support those who are not in the Association and are in need but can’t afford to buy. We are thankful and we hope this initiative will be extended to other people as well.”


Paul Amponsah, Chairman - Tailoring and Seamstresses Association 
“Golden Star has done so well and has saved our Association from having to buy a new machine. Now the Association has its own knitting machine where people come and pay for their knitting to be done, which is helping the Association make money. Looking at the number of items donated that day, I believe it is a good thing they did. Well done Golden Star.”  
 


Lydia Bentum – Hairdresser 
“Purchasing a dryer and a sterilizer is costly and one needs to work for a while before acquring them. Because there are a lot of infections that can be spread from hairdressing, some people come to the salon but then leave because you don’t have a sterilizer. So I believe with the dryer and the sterilizer, people will start coming here and the additional dryer will help progress my business and increase sales. I really thank Golden Star for the impact they are making in our businesses and lives. I’m looking forward to seeing more development.”


Haggai Sampson – Apprentice Committee Chair 
“I look after the knitting machine donated to our Association and we use it to serve our customers and association members. We are making money because a lot of people come here to do knitting, which they pay for. With the money we are getting, the Association is planning on buying an overlocking machine, since it is also important in making the work easier. We are grateful to  the company for their donation because this machine is expensive but they gave it to us for free, which no other company operating  in this community has ever done. God Bless Golden Star.”  

If you'd like to find out more about Golden Star and its approach to CSR, please visit www.gsr.com/responsibility.

Malaria Safe

Malaria remains a leading cause of mortality and morbidity for Ghana. In 2016 it was a top cause of death for children in the Prestea Huni-Valley District, where the Prestea Gold Mine is located, and in 2015 the Ghana Health Service reported 23,773 cases in that District alone. 

Golden Star undertakes a number of malaria control programs, such as the spraying of residential buildings and offices, the supply of insect repellent sprays to employees, health education, and mitigation initiatives, including pathology testing and anti-malarial treatments.  As a result of these programs, the number of malaria cases reported has decreased by two-thirds over the last five years. 

Working in partnership

In line with our values to be malaria safe company, Golden Star and its partner, the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication’s Program for Private Sector Malaria Prevention (PSMP), organized a training session for its employees and for the people living in our host communities.

Malaria champions for the Bogoso/Prestea Gold Mine
and its catchment communities after the training session

The objective of the training was to provide education about the causes, symptoms, complications and treatment of malaria.  It also aimed to raising awareness about how to protect yourself and your family from malaria by using an insecticide treated net (ITN) in order to maintain malaria safe company.
 

The team from Johns Hopkins facilitating the
malaria champion training

What was the result?

By the end of the training sessions, 100 people were trained as malaria champions: 53 from the Bogoso/Prestea mine and 47 from the Wassa mine.  Most participants said they hadn’t fully understood what causes malaria in the past or the significance of the steps you can take to prevent it.

Golden Star and its partners will continue to educate our employees and host communities to ensure we remain a malaria safe company.

What has been the impact?

Who is better to ask than the new anti-malaria ambassadors?

Sarah Asare, Nurse at Wassa Akropong Clinic
“I thank Golden Star and its partners for this initiative because they are helping reduce the burden on the health sectors.  This one day training course has been very educative and helpful. I want this training to continue because it will help create awareness and reduce malaria cases and I hope the company will organize these trainings more often for the communities.” 

Richard Amoah Baidoo, Safety Department at Prestea Underground Gold Mine
“I want to thank Golden Star for their commitment in ensuring the success of this training. It has been very interesting and much educative especially on the need to use an ITN. I used to have a different opinion about the ITN but I believe this training has helped eradicate that misconception. For me, I think it is always good to sleep under the ITN because we cannot stop malaria but we can prevent it.”

Collins Adjapong from Kofi Manee
“Usually, people think that using the mosquito net is not good and will make you feel hot but this training has actually taught me that sleeping in the net is the best solution to prevent malaria. One amazing thing that I discovered during the training was that mosquitos actually do not lay their eggs in filthy or dirty water but clean water, so even a cup of water left in your room uncovered can breed mosquitos and cause malaria. I want this training to continue and I would love if it if it was done every three months.”


Joyce Owusu Ampomah, Nurse at Bogoso Health Service
”Although I work in the health sector, there are some things I didn’t know about malaria before the training session. I knew that malaria can kill but I wasn’t aware that it can also cause problems to the brain like epilepsy and blindness. Now I think this knowledge will not only help me educate my patients and the community but also my family and children. I am very impressed and I thank Golden Star for this training, I will be glad if training programs like this can continue to help reduce the infant mortality rate and make Ghana a malaria-free country”

Eric Angmor, Community Development at Mampon
“I thought I knew a lot about malaria but the training today has been very good, especially on the use of the ITN. Most people say sleeping under the ITN is not conducive with regards to room temperature so they prefer using the mosquito spray or coil but this training has taught me that the best remedy to prevent malaria is the use of the net. The ITN is very effective, affordable and has a longer expiry date of 3 years. I think if we have something that is going to prevent malaria then it is about time we come together as a country to promote the use of the ITN, especially in the rural communities”

Marriam Abdulai, nursing mother from Bogoso
“I thank Golden Star for this training because it has really helped me as a mother. Malaria is something we all know about, but this training has taught me so much. Most of us have grown up thinking that unclean gutters and stagnant water breeds malaria but I got to know through this training that it is clean water that actually breeds mosquitos and its effects on children are more serious than I thought. As a mother I would encourage all mothers to take malaria very seriously and sleep under the treated net to save themselves and their children.”

Eric Asare, Nurse at Akyempim Clinic
 “This training was very impactful, even though it was a refresher course for me since I am already into malaria prevention.  I already knew the causes, prevention, signs, symptoms and the management of malaria but there was something new that I learnt and that was the number of batches that mosquitos lay their eggs. I learnt they lay eggs in 7 batches and within each batch they lay a number of eggs within 3 weeks. So for me, I think we should do more in terms of educating and sensitizing the community because if mosquitos are supposed to lay eggs in 7 batches within 3 weeks then it should tell you how serious the issue of malaria is. One exciting thing I heard was that the company is making plans to purchase ITNs for employees and probably some community members, which I think is a good initiative and the most effective way of preventing malaria. God Bless Golden Star.”

Ebenezer Annan from Kubekro
“This training has helped me to know how to keep my house and surroundings free from mosquitos because it is not the filthy places that breed mosquitos but cleans waters. So if I leave my bucket of water uncovered for days it could breed mosquitos. Another interesting thing that I learnt was that these coils and sprays do not kill the mosquitos but only make them feel drowsy and the only way to protect ourselves is the use of the ITN. I thank Golden Star and I hope to see more of such training.”

Isaac Boateng from Kubekro
“First of all I would want to thank Golden Star for organizing this training; it has really taught me a lot. I learnt that although there are a lot of types of mosquito but it only the anopheles mosquito that carries malaria. I also learnt about the best way to prevent ourselves from getting malaria which is the use of the ITN. This training also made me understand how malaria can affect the economy in terms of productivity; I therefore encourage everyone to sleep under the ITN so that the country’s productivity can increase”

Evelyn Adu Gyamfi from Akosombo
“This training has taught me about how important it is to use the ITN and how malaria can affect the country economically. Most people in my community complain about the effect they get when they sleep under the ITN, but through this training I have learnt that the ITN must be hung in the shade for 24 hours before use and this has made it easier to teach my community about how to use the net and what to do before using it in order not to feel too hot. Now I look forward to seeing a malaria free community.”

Regina Ampong from Akyempim
“I have learnt a lot through this training. I didn’t know much about the ITN, I have never used it before and the way people complain about it didn’t even make me want to use it. During the training, we were told that the net should be hanged under a shade for 24hours before use and this has begun helping my community because I came to teach them what to do.  I have also decided to get one for myself because it is better to spend a little to protect oneself than to spend fortune to heal yourself.”

Samuel Owusu Kumi, Supply Department at Wassa Gold Mine
“I realized there was more to malaria than I thought and I have come to terms with the actual facts about it. Usually we think every mosquito that bites gives malaria and every mosquito breeds in filthy places. It was after the training that I realized that even the anopheles mosquito knows what hygiene is, because it breeds only in clean water. I would say this is a very important thing I have learnt and that will go a long way to assist the community and our working environment.”

Patience Aninakor, Finance Department at Wassa Gold Mine
“Personally this training has taught me a lot about the effects and prevention of malaria. One thing I learnt was the use of the ITN and the Indoor Residual Spray (IRS). For me that was the first time hearing about the IRS and how it is even done.”

Afia Agyefi Nkansa, Geology Department at Wassa Gold Mine
“I know pretty much about the causes, prevention, signs and symptoms and management of malaria but one new thing I learnt through the training was the misconception I had about mosquitos breeding in filthy areas.  Another interesting thing that I learnt was that the use of the ITN can help reduce malaria to about 70%. Getting to know this statistics, I think I can now teach my community about how important it is to use the ITN.”

Adam Kofi Okyere, HR Department at Wassa Gold Mine
“I thank Golden Star for organizing this important training, it was a very interesting, interactive and educative program. Personally I think this is something that is going to help me, my community and the entire workforce. I look forward to seeing another informative and educative program.”

Benjamin Appiah, Programs Officer at Johns Hopkins University 
“This training has been very interactive and exciting, with a great number of participants. It has equipped and provided amazing opportunities for the selected employees of GSR and members of the catchment communities to have a good knowledge of malaria and how to prevent it. My team and I are looking forward to seeing a Malaria Safe company and catchment.  Ayekoo to Golden Star.”


Award recognition

At Golden Star, our people are our greatest asset so we always strive to be safe and to maintain a healthy workforce. Malaria prevention is one of the major health topics discussed during our safety meetings and tools box meetings.  We always strive to be a Malaria Safe company. 

As a result, Golden Star has been recognized with two Citations and two Malaria Safe Awards for instituting a formalized system of protecting employees, their dependents and its catchment communities from malaria. This award was presented by the Private Sector Malaria Prevention (PSMP) project of Johns Hopkins University/Center for Communication Programs which is funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFIP).

HR Manager for the Bogoso/Prestea mine, Albert Soboh,
receiving the award

If you'd like to find out more about Golden Star and its approach to CSR, please visit www.gsr.com/responsibility.

Mining Company of the Year!

National and International Recognition

At the Ghana Mining Industry Awards gala in late November, Golden Star Resources stole the show with awards in 5 categories!  These included:

• Mining Company of the Year – Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea) Limited
• Corporate Social Investment Project of the Year – Golden Star Resources
• Mining Personality of the Year – Mr. Daniel Owiredu, Golden Star Resources, Chief Operating Officer
• Best Graduate Research – Mr. Ahmed Salim Adam (M Phil), Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea) Limited, Processing Manager
• First Runner Up – Best Performer in Occupational Health and Safety – Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea) Limited

After the early November announcement that Golden Star had been awarded the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Environment and Social Responsibility Award, it was thrilling to complement this recognition with awards in our primary host country, Ghana.

Now let’s take a closer look at each of the award categories that we won…

Mining Company of the Year

Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea) Limited was recognized as Mining Company of the Year. This flagship award is bestowed on a company that has achieved the highest results in environmental management, occupational health and safety, corporate social investment, innovation and local content.

Mr Jerry Agala, General Manager of the Bogoso/Prestea mine, receives the award
from the Vice Chancellor of the University of Mining and Technology

Mining Personality of the Year (President’s Award)

In the inaugural year of this award, Mr. Daniel Owiredu, Golden Star’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, was recognized for: the significant role he has playing in the growth of the industry; his demonstrated leadership and mentorship; support to the growth of local businesses; introduction of innovation into business process; and evident high ethical standards.

The increased production and sustained reduction in operating costs achieved by Golden Star in 2016 clearly demonstrates the strong and consistent leadership demonstrated by Mr. Owiredu, despite the challenging conditions for the gold industry in Ghana. 

Mr Daniel Owiredu receives his award from Hon. Barbara Oteng Gyasi,
Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and MP for Prestea Huni-Valley

Corporate Social Investment Project of the Year

Awarded to a company that has implemented a land mark project as part of its corporate social investment, Golden Star’s breast cancer awareness project was recognized for scope, impact and sustainability. 

Golden Star's breast cancer awareness program

In the five years of project implementation, the project has brought free clinical breast cancer screening to more than 10,400 women and girls that previously have not had access to these services, and potentially saving as many as 270 lives. In a far reaching endeavor, screening benefited 30 host communities, spanning more than 80 screening days at 41 locations.

In its final year the program has now achieved all but the last of its objectives for sustainability. In the final stage of the program, Golden Star, in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Ghana Health Services and AEL Mining Services, is establishing prevention health units (PHUs) in the catchment Government Hospitals and health compounds. Under the program funding, these PHUs will be equipped with preventative health equipment, enabling host communities to routinely access affordable prevention health services, including clinical breast cancer screening and education on an ongoing basis.

Best Graduate Research

Mr. Ahmed Salim Adam, Processing Manager at our Bogoso/Prestea operations, was recognized for the Best Graduate Research in 2017 for his Masters of Philosophy dissertation.

Ahmed Salim Adam (right) is joined by Peter Addai of the
Golden Star Oil Palm Plantation to celebrate his win

First Runner Up, Best Performer in Occupational Health and Safety

Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea) Limited was recognized as first runner-up in the category of Best Performer in Occupational Health and Safety. This award celebrates the mining company that has excelled in promoting a holistic health and safety culture, in compliance with industry regulations and safety standards. 

Golden Star's emergency response team at a
joint training day with Ghana Fire Services

A word from the CEO…

Commenting on these achievements, Mr. Sam Coetzer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Golden Star, said:

"We are delighted that GSBPL has been named Mining Company of the Year at the Ghana Mining Awards. Judged and awarded by Ghanaians, this award reflects the strong commitment to excellence demonstrated by all of our team. I am also very proud that our Chief Operating Officer, Daniel Owiredu, received the first ever Mining Personality of the Year Award. Over his 11 years with Golden Star, Daniel has been at the forefront not only of our efforts to develop two high quality mining operations but also to deliver a best in class approach to corporate responsibility. This is underlined by Golden Star winning the Corporate Social Investment Award and by GSBPL being named Runner Up in Occupational Health and Safety. I'd also like to congratulate Ahmed-Salim Adam for winning the Best Graduate Research award for his Masters dissertation. He is one of the many promising young Ghanaians within our team who I am confident will become the mining industry's future leaders. Finally, I'd like to thank our host communities and all of our partners in Ghana. It is only through working together that we are able to win these awards and more importantly, deliver long term, sustainable benefits for all of our stakeholders."

If you'd like to find out more about Golden Star and its approach to CSR, please visit www.gsr.com/responsibility.

A Proud Partner

Golden Star’s 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report had as its cover image the young men and women of Maintenance Sustainability Africa (MSA), Prestea’s first ever, volunteering youth non-governmental organization (NGO). 

MSA at the Prestea recreational park

An article in the Corporate Responsibility Report featured the group, explaining:

“Genuine volunteering is not only altruistic, but in many communities, brings an improved quality of life to those who are most vulnerable. In 2015 a new youth NGO was formed in Prestea, Maintenance Sustainability Africa (MSA), and the group immediately supported our initiatives for the conversion of a former refuse site to a community, recreational parkland. Since the completion of the capping of the site, the young men and women of MSA have made an immense contribution to the people of Prestea, by planting the site with grass, nurturing the seedlings, and maintaining the site.

"We are proud of MSA; together, we have become true partners in development by sharing responsibility for taking action for the betterment of society. Although the project is in its infancy, the actions of this group are a first for Prestea, and provide enormous symbolism to others.”

Partnerships for Sustainability

Sustainable Development Goal 17 recognizes the need to revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. Golden Star and its host communities, including groups such as MSA, are working together in partnership to mobilise, redirect and unlock the transformative power of our combined resources to deliver our shared hopes for sustainable development. 

Agnes Fuakye Yeboah of MSA at the Prestea recreational park

Local Champions for Development

Despite some decriers that did not support volunteering, MSA persisted and are now widely respected as considered representatives of youth that continue to tackle some of the local community’s greatest development challenges.

MSA have pioneered an innovative pilot project, known as EDUPAY, to assist poor families in saving for school fees, which improves school enrollment and retention. Effectively a fee payment model, EDUPAY targets the low cost private school system to improve access and quality of education in communities where poverty is predominant. 

Emmanuel Turkson and the MSA EDUPAY 

team at a local community school

Godfred and Emmanuel Turkson, co-Founders of MSA, observed something about the educational system in the community which pushed MSA to develop this initiative:  

“In many Ghanaian rural areas, poor parents send their wards to low cost private schools to avoid the overburdened public school system. The twin challenges of accessibility and affordability remain and result in a cycle of poverty derived from poor education. Where fees are too high parents default on payment. This leads to appalling infrastructure management at the schools, directly affecting the delivery of quality of education, and students are expelled from school, affecting the ability of the parents to remain in work and sustain employment.”

The simple model works by providing parents with a school fees payment plan to spread fee payment over a reasonable period of time, in a traditional saving style. MSA deploys officers to collect fee contributions daily, with contributions banked for onward payment to the schools. 

A parallel aspect of the program is the pre-financing of fees payment to the school. With consistent revenue delivery, enhanced management of funds is achieved by schools, enabling planning for infrastructure and facility development. 

The model also incorporates an educational guarantee component and scholarships for brilliant but needy students.

MSA supporting schools in improved planning and growth

What Has Been The Impact?

EDUPAY now supports more than 700 parents, predominantly women, in saving for school fees payment. Cutting across two local private schools, the system has vast potential for expansion.

Let’s see what the participants in EDUPAY have to say about the impact:

Richard Intsiful, Proprietor, Fin Upgrade International School, Prestea
“EDUPAY has made a big impact on my school. I have been able to build new structures including toilets, backfill an area that used to flood and pay my teachers all arrears owed. I pray that EDUPAY grows, expands and is sustained to be able to help the community in terms of development and sustainability” 




George Atanga, Headmaster, Prestea 

“Our fears were dispelled by the pre-financing support, and the transparency and accountability the EDUPAY system brings. We are very happy as a school and grateful to MSA for this initiative because now parents can pay fees and our school can benefit from development projects. God bless MSA for turning lives around.” 

Belinda Gyasi, student 
“EDUPAY has helped our parents to be able to pay our school fees. At first they were having difficulty in paying our fees but with EDUPAY they can pay little by little. It has also helped my school because the school uses the school fees to make the environment better. I thank EDUPAY very much for their support.” 






Anthony Arthur, student 
“Sometimes my parents couldn’t get money to pay fees or they couldn’t look after us well during fees time, but with EDUPAY they pay in installments. It has also helped us to do school projects – soon we will have toilets! EDUPAY also gives scholarships and I want to learn well to win a scholarship.” 





Desire Mensah, student 
“EDUPAY helps my family pay fees bit by bit like ‘susu’ so they don’t feel it and before they realize they have paid the fees in excess and don’t have to pay much for the next term. I thank EDUPAY so much and I want it to continue so that our parents can pay our fees and we can stay in school.” 







Festus Kwesi Arthur, teacher 
“EDUPAY has helped me as a teacher because through them the school has been able to pay our salaries, which reduces stress so we can effectively teach. EDUPAY even have a representative in our school to assist with fees management. I really thank God for blessing MSA with this initiative because now we can focus on teaching.” 

Docas Aggrey, Kindergarten teacher
“EDUPAY has helped the teachers a lot because when the children are expelled due to lack of fee payment, they go roaming about in town which leads to concern in the community and tarnishes the image of the school. I thank EDUPAY very much for lifting us all up.”

Vida Mills, parent and petty trader  
“EDUPAY has really helped me a lot because the school fees are very expensive and I always find it difficult but with EDUPAY I can pay them little by little rather than in bulk. Now I don’t need to use all my income to pay school fees, so as well as helping me it has also stabilized my business. I thank MSA for the good job that they are doing.” 




International Recognition

The efforts of MSA and their EDUPAY program are clearly worth highlighting, for innovation, remarkable contribution to sustainable development, and the vast potential of the model to support other impoverished regions of the world. 
As a result, EDUPAY was nominated for Best Project in the Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition conducted under the UNESCO Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development.

The award category recognizes that the project has gone beyond being an idea or a concept but has actually been successfully implemented for the benefit of sustainable development.



In a grueling four-stage assessment process that continued over several months, EDUPAY rose above thousands of competitor projects to be short-listed as just one of 10 of the 1,600 projects that passed screening. 

Students supported by EDUPAY

In the final stage a project video was produced and submitted for assessment by a world-class panel of judges including the Secretary General of the World Assembly of Youth as well as representatives from an array of international agencies including the International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Commonwealth Youth Council. 

At Golden Star, we are proud of our relationship with MSA and are thrilled to announce that MSA won the Silver Medal for Best Project in the UNESCO Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development!

The Future

As to the future, Godfred Turkson, CEO of MSA, had this to say:

“The model is a pilot that we continue to evolve to strengthen its frameworks and the three major pillars:
• Flexible payment scheme
• Pre-financing fund
• Project targeting infrastructure development.
In the future we expect to expand to include a maintenance team, a construction team and a project team to target infrastructure development. Our objective is that every school will have an ‘infrastructure development plan’ allowing educational staff to focus on improved academic performance with the support of EDUPAY in executing the school’s infrastructure development plan”.

Well done Maintenance Sustainability Africa! Golden Star looks forward to continuing to partner with you for sustainable development.

If you'd like to find out more about Golden Star and its approach to CSR, please visit www.gsr.com/responsibility.

For more information on Maintenance Sustainability Africa visit their website www.masuafrica.org or read about their EDUPAY Project at the UNESCO Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship site at https://www.entrepreneurship-campus.org/ideas/14/5639/