Youth from communities in the Amansie South and Amansie West districts are benefiting from a community skills and apprenticeship programme spearheaded by Asanko Gold Ghana Ltd.
The beneficiaries, categorised under the first and second cohorts, have been engaged in training in areas including welding, electrical work, HME mechanics, health and safety, assay laboratory assistance, blast assistance, drilling offsider operations and heavy equipment operation. More significantly, among the beneficiaries are women operating heavy-duty trucks, welding, and taking on technical roles.
A total of 71 beneficiaries graduated after completing one year of training across the various technical and operational fields. Fortunately, about 40 beneficiaries from cohort one have gained full-time employment with Asanko and its business partners, while others have returned to school or moved on to pursue other opportunities.
The hands-on training was assessed by the Ghana Technical and Vocational Institute, which accredited the trainers' competency certificates. The company also facilitated Minerals Commission operator certification for the trainees. A total of 75 participants inducted into cohort two will undergo similar training, with the overall aim of equipping them to take up future job opportunities either within the company or elsewhere.
The programme is being implemented by Asanko Gold Ghana Ltd and its business partners, including Drill Masters Africa, Rabotec Ghana Limited, Intertek Minerals, BLOJ Company Limited, Rocksure International, Solar Nitro and A. Kanin Limited.
Embrace initiative
Speaking during the graduation and induction ceremony at Manso Nkwanta, the General Manager of Asanko Gold Ghana Ltd, Justice Fenteng, urged beneficiaries from both cohorts to embrace the initiative and work towards improving themselves and their communities.
He explained that the programme was designed to equip young people in host communities with employable skills, particularly in the mining industry, to contribute to the growth of the local economy. "We want to train our youth to be employable, especially in our industry. Because we would like to have a lot of local employees, but if they do not have the skills then it becomes difficult for us to pick them and we will have to fall on other people in the region," he said. He added that the training programme, sponsored by Asanko and its business partners, gives people the opportunity to train in both technical and operational fields.
The Coordinating Director for the Amansie West District, Okrah Thomas Kwame, lauded the initiative and urged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the programme to make an impact in their respective communities.
Key development partner
The Sompahene, Nana Oppong Mensah Abrampah, who represented the Paramount Chief of the Manso Nkwanta Traditional Area, commended Asanko for the various programmes it continues to implement to promote local development. He called on residents to regard the company as a key development partner and help maintain a sound environment for its operations to facilitate the development of host communities. He also urged Asanko to increase the number of beneficiaries in future editions of the programme.
One of the graduates from Cohort One, Kate Owusuaa Frimpong, who secured a job through the programme after struggling to find work after university, said the programme had presented her with a greater opportunity than she had ever imagined. She said the programme would help reduce unemployment in her community, Essuowin, and other adjoining areas.
