Newmont miner trains communities in exploration

Yamfo (B/A), April 9, GNA - A two-week training course for 28 participants including four women selected from Newmont Gold Limited drilling catchment areas in Brong-Ahafo ended on Thursday at Yamfo. They constituted the fourth batch of the programme of the company aimed at establishing a construction pool to enable the local people to get jobs in its mining projects in the region.

The trainees were from Kenyase Numbers one and two, Ntotroso, Adrobaa, Tanoso, Susuanso and Yamfo.

Mr Colin Maddocks, Management Training Officer of the Company, told the trainees the completion of the course did not mean an immediate employment for them but assured them that they would be considered first if their assistance was needed.

He said the training was to equip them with the knowledge in mining exploration.

During the course the trainees constructed a three-classroom block for the local centre of the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) at an estimated cost of 150 million cedis.

Mr Maddocks promised that in due course the company would pay the new minimum daily wage of 11,200 cedis and asked workers engaged by the company to work hard to justify the raise.

The trainees appealed to the company to speed up with the arrangement to engage them to relieve them from financial hardships.

Mr Israel Boni, Manager of Yamfo Training Centre, commended the management of the company for instituting the training programme.