AGA equips 20 youth with employable skills

Twenty selected youth from within the catchment area of AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) have completed three months in the field of apprenticeship certificate in wielding and fabrication and apprenticeship in auto electricals. It is to equip them with employable skills to eke out a living.

The US$20,000 programme saw five participants selected from each area of Binsere, New Dokyiwaa, Anyinam, Sanso and Bediem, totaling 20, aimed at producing marketable young engineering apprentices with practical skills for various employment opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.

Nana Ampofo-Bekoe, Sustainability Manager of AGA, explained that the mining company is doing its best to equip the youth from communities within which it operates to gain skills for employment.

Addressing the graduation of twenty apprenticeship trainees at Obuasi, under the auspices of the AGA, Nana Ampofo-Bekoe disclosed that the programme had trained over 500 apprentices in the last ten years, when it started as a pilot project.

Michael Nimako emerged the Overall Best Student, with Shadrack Bonna and Joseph Boahen the Best Auto Electrical and Wielding and Fabrication students respectively.

Mr. Opare Baidoo, Director of the AGA Training Centre, disclosed that the training facility has been dormant following the closure of the AGA for restructuring, but through the efforts of the Department of Sustainability to management, the facility has been vibrant, making it possible for organisations like Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and others to bring their workers to be trained and acquire skills.

Director Baidoo hinted that in due course automation system engineering courses, electronic fuel injection system and electronic panel would be introduced.

The Krontihene of New Edubiase, Nana Asirifi Asare II, who is also Chief Adomanu, urged graduands not to sit idle after acquiring skills from the training, instead they should put them into use.

“Don't let this knowledge go waste; do something on your own,” he added.

He told the participants that they were building their capacity in the job market, and what they learnt was very important.

An elated Overall Best Student, Mr. Nimako, thanked the AGA authorities for the opportunity to acquire skills, which is very essential in the Ghanaian job market.

He urged his students not rest on their oars, but put the knowledge acquired

From Richard Owusu-Akyaw