Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi Mine empowers 60 local contractors

In a bid to support local contractors within its operational areas and help them secure more contracts, AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine organized a two-day capacity-building workshop for 60 contractors in Obuasi.

The training, known as the Business Supply Chain Development (BSD) project, is a key initiative within AngloGold Ashanti's 10-year Socioeconomic Development Plan. This project is being implemented in collaboration with Absa Bank Ghana and the Minerals Commission.

Hailed by industry players as a game-changer, the workshop aims to equip local contractors with the skills needed to compete effectively with their foreign counterparts. Participants received training on various topics, including banking culture, tax compliance, digitalization through the Absa payment platform, procurement processes for goods and services, and Mineral Commission regulations and registration procedures.

Edmond Oduro Agyei, Community Relations Manager of AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine, emphasized that the program aligns with the company's broader goal of empowering local businesses to create jobs and diversify the economy of Obuasi. He reiterated AngloGold Ashanti's commitment to sustainability, stating, "We implemented our 10-year Socioeconomic Development Plan with the aim of diversifying the local economy and improving the lives of people in our operational areas."

Mr. Oduro Agyei noted that the company, recognizing the impact of its 2014 care and maintenance phase on Obuasi's economy, decided to support the local economy by empowering business owners. This initiative aims to reduce the community's reliance on the mine for employment.

The training modules were carefully selected based on gaps identified by AngloGold Ashanti in its interactions with local contractors—gaps that have hindered their ability to secure contracts with the company. Mr. Oduro Agyei expressed confidence that the training would help bridge these gaps and enhance the contractors' capabilities.

Aboagye Ohene Adu, Chairman of the Obuasi Local Contractors Association, praised AngloGold Ashanti for organizing the workshop, calling it a testament to the company's commitment to empowering local businesses. He highlighted the long-standing, positive relationship between the association and AngloGold Ashanti, noting that this partnership has created numerous opportunities for its members. "Most of our members were somewhat unaware of what it takes to win contracts with multinational companies like AngloGold Ashanti. This workshop has opened our eyes to issues we were previously unaware of," Mr. Ohene Adu said.

In September 2023, AngloGold Ashanti signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Absa Bank to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The MoU outlined four projects aimed at improving the business capabilities of SMEs in the Obuasi Mine's operational area and creating non-mining jobs to sustain and diversify the local economy. These projects include the Business Acceleration and Sustainability Project, Women in e-Commerce Project, Business Supply Chain Development Project, and the Artisans to Entrepreneurs Project.