GoldFields Partners Stephen Appiah

GoldFields Ghana Foundation will partner with the StepApp Foundation, founded by Black Stars Captain Stephen Appiah, to support and encourage less privileged kids in Ghana.

StepApp is a non-governmental organization aimed at helping especially underprivileged kids in rural areas. The Gold Fields Foundation which has similar ideals will therefore partner with the StepApp foundation for its annual event dubbed ‘StepApp to Sports’ for the benefit of the youth in its catchment areas of Tarkwa and Damang.

This is an annual community based tournament for school going children up to Junior High School, from various communities competing for the Captain’s Cup. This year’s StepApp to Sports Day will be held today June 27 at the Liberty Professional Football Grounds, Dansoman. Next year, the event will move for the first time outside Accra to Tarkwa, in the Western Region, the base of GoldFields Ghana’s mining operations. The Gold Fields Foundation provides support for their communities of operation through educational scholarships, assisting the delivery of better health, infrastructure, wealth creation and other socio-economic needs.

It has since its inception in 2002 spent millions of Ghana Cedis to help various developmental projects in the communities. The first StepApp to Sports Day held last year attracted 8000 school going children. Due to the success of the first event, the GoldFields Ghana Foundation will partner with Stephen’s Foundation to reach a lot more kids this year. The day features Stephen Appiah; his Black Stars team mates, Michael Essien and others as well as former national stars Tony Yeboah and Tony Baffoe.

‘Appiah’s iconic stature among his peers coupled with his image as a national hero for children and his selfless devotion towards the upliftment of others less fortunate, are special attributes that meshes with qualities which the Gold Fields Foundations stands for’ said Dr Toni Aubynn, acting Country Manager and a member of the GoldFields Ghana Foundation board.

Meanwhile Gold Fields Ghana, which is the Headline Sponsor of the Black Stars, has congratulated Black Stars on the recent win against Sudan in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. Ghana tops Group D with nine points at the halfway stage of the campaign.

Sponsorship funds from GoldFields has helped Ghana qualify to a first World Cup in 2006 and its support again is powering the Black Stars to yet another World Cup appearance.