<<Print>>

AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine has completed a vocational training programme for Twenty- five females from New Tokunaso and Mankessim all the host communities of AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine. The training in batik tye and dye was in collaboration with the Catholic Vocational Training Institute and the National Board for Small Scale Industries in Tarkwa.

Out of the number, six were taken through tye and dye, whiles nineteen undertook pastries making. The training forms part of the Mine’s Local Economic Development Initiatives to help improve economic activities of the women in its host communities and to mitigate the loss of economic livelihood of the project affected persons after resettlement and to enhance their standard of living. The beneficiaries were the Project Affected Persons of the resettled New Mankessim and New Tokunaso resettled communities of the Mine.

Senior Manager –Sustainability of Iduapriem Mine, Emmanuel Baidoo, addressing the trainees at the ceremony at New Tokunaso said the interventions are efforts to complement government in community development in the Tarkwa Municipal Assembly to alleviate poverty in its host communities.

“AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem mine will ensure that its host communities are empowered at all levels for improved socio-economic development “.He however argued that the training does not guarantee automatic employment with the mine but rather equip them with employable skills. “We are working with the NBSSI to develop a Business Model to help them sustain and grow their business. Although the mine is very much aware that it cannot employ everyone who wants a job it remains committed to skills development and empowerment” he opined.

The Municipal training officer for National Board for Small Scale Industries Francis Baghr said the results of the collaboration has been effective and commended AngloGold Ashanti for the initiative and called on other organizations to emulate it.

The Business Advocacy Center of NBSSI in  Bogoso said his outfit will register the trainees under the Rural Enterprises programme and encouraged them to showcase what the mine has invested in them. 

Certificates of competence and start-up kits to enable them enhance the skills they have acquired were awarded them.

Mr Amos Owusu  is a community leader for New Tokunaso. He added that the communities will work closely with the Mine to ensure that their communities have a sustainable future and good working relationship with the mine.

Last year, AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine trained twenty women to gain employable skills and sustainable income. The local economic strategy of the mine seeks to promote sustainable economic opportunities in host communities through capacity building.