Two collaborate to provide skills training for Obuasi youth
AngloGold Ashanti (AGA), Obuasi Mine, has partnered with a Ghanaian-owned indigenous company, Mac Partners, to train 101 youth in Obuasi to equip them with practical employable skills to become relevant and self-reliant.
The youth apprenticeship programme seeks to train and produce marketable young engineering apprentices in the area of welding and fabrication, mechanical technician and electrical technicians.
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According to the Managing Director of AGA, Eric Asubonteng, the collaboration is to revamp the former AGA engineering training centre to build capacities of the youth within the host communities and beyond.
He said there was a correlation between human capacity and economic development adding that technical training has a positive impact on the lives of the trainees as it will prepare them for future employment.
The training formed part of AGA's localisation plan since the redevelopment project in 2019 and sought to provide practical skills that positions host the community's youth to have competitive employable skills.
So far, the mines have trained more than 128 youth since the commencement of the Obuasi redevelopment project under its social management plan.
Dr. Asubonteng said AGA was determined to leave the various communities within its catchment areas with a sustainable future through youth development in sync with its vision.
He told the youth to remain focused in whatever they do and urged them to take full advantage of the programme.
The CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Sulemanu Koney, said one of the challenges facing the mining industry was the shortage of skilled labourers to tackle specific areas.
He, therefore, congratulated AGA and Mac Partners for the initiative to train the youth and make them competitive for a place in the mines.
Dr. Koney gave the assurance that the chamber will recognise Mac Partners Training Institute as a centre of excellence aimed at giving hope to the youth.
