Monrovia – Kokoyah District, Bong County–Residents of Kokoyah District have expressed their appreciation for the opening of the Boinsen Multilateral Institute, a school constructed by Turkish mining company MNG Gold Liberia Inc.
By Selma Lomax [email protected]
The school opened its doors on September 18, 2024, following years of construction.
The construction of the school began in 2016 and reached 90% completion, before a fire incident temporarily halted progress. Initially intended as a vocational school through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), community citizens, in discussions with the company and the District Education Officer, successfully negotiated to include academic components, allowing it to function as both a junior and senior high school.
MNG Gold’s Executive Director of Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Cem Aktay, expressed gratitude to residents of Kokoyah for their ongoing cooperation and support.
He stated that while the vocational components of the school will open once operations resume, MNG Gold is committed to working collaboratively with the community for the overall development of the district and Bong County.
Additionally, Mr. Aktay emphasized MNG Gold’s dedication to its corporate social responsibilities, noting that despite a slowdown in operations since November 2023, the company continues to provide support to local schools.
“It is currently paying monthly stipends to Sayewheh Town Public School and Dean’s Town Public School while also including the Boinsen Multilateral Institute in this support”, he disclosed.
He further revealed that MNG Gold has also contributed to the community by distributing 350 bags of rice during the July 26, 2024, Independence Day celebration, with similar distributions planned for the upcoming Christmas holiday.
For his part, the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Matthew N. Gbanken, reported that the company has initiated road rehabilitation projects, having successfully upgraded a 35-kilometer stretch from Dean’s Town to Zaryee Town, and another 10-kilometer route from Borbor Fire through Dan Town to Camp-Two Town.
He added that MNG Gold intends to resume rehabilitation of major community roads by November 2024, prioritizing the route from Dean’s Town to Gbarnga.
However, the newly appointed Community Liaison Officer of the company, Mr. Matthew G. Whymah, affirmed his commitment to fostering and maintaining a strong relationship between MNG Gold and the community, emphasizing the company’s ongoing implementation of its social responsibilities despite current operational challenges.