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AngloGold Ashanti’s Obuasi mine has graduated its 3rd batch of young individuals from its Youth Apprenticeship Programme, an investment that cost them no less than 3 million Ghana cedis.
These graduates numbering 101, hailing from the mine’s operational area, dedicated a year to enhancing their skills in welding and fabrications, electrical technician, and mechanical technician at the Mac Partners Training Institute.
Emmanuel Baidoo, Senior Manager of Sustainability at AGA, explained that when the Obuasi redevelopment project commenced, AngloGold Ashanti decided to take a unique approach to local employment, drawing from best practices elsewhere.
This led to the establishment of the Community Youth Apprenticeship Program in 2020, providing local youth with the opportunity to undergo skills development training, preparing them for the job market.
Baidoo emphasized the company’s belief that investing in the education and vocational training of youths in its host communities will not only enhance their employability but also contribute to the overall development and prosperity of Obuasi.
“We are committed to sustaining this program, recognizing the impact it has on the economy of our host communities, hence we will train 100 people every year as enshrined in our 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan”, Baidoo said.
Seth Quaye, Managing Director of Mac Partners Training Institute, praised the graduates for acquiring valuable knowledge and practical skills that serve as the backbone of various industries, not limited to just mining sectors, but also enabling them to establish their own businesses.
He encouraged the graduates to keep practicing, as practice makes perfect, and to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.
Nana Baffour Mireku IV (Adansihene Gyaasehene), representing the Adansihene, lauded AngloGold Ashanti’s efforts in imparting practical knowledge and hands-on experience to local youth. He urged the company to expand the program to accommodate more young individuals seeking such opportunities.
Stephen Tecku, the Obuasi Municipal Coordinating Director, who represented the Municipal Chief Executive, commended AngloGold Ashanti for sustaining the program for the past 3 years.
He believed that the training program would open doors of opportunity for the graduates and appealed to the company to work with subcontractors associated with the Mine to extend employment opportunities to the graduates.
Lydia Obireboa Badu, the best female graduate, and Dasha Tawiah, the overall best student, expressed their gratitude to AngloGold Ashanti for the training they received, and the stipends provided throughout their training.
They affirmed that the training had equipped them with the skills to secure employment and even establish their own businesses.
SOURCE: DAILY MAIL GH
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