Youth in Amansie communities benefit from Asanko Gold Ghana Ltd apprenticeship programme

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. 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 technical and operational fields. About 40 beneficiaries from Cohort One have gained full-time employment with Asanko and its business partners, while others have saved enough to return to school, with some moving 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. 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. “This is a contribution to the community, so we can train our…