Some residents of Obuasi in the Ashanti region have toned down their anticipation to work in the mine but are taking advantage of AngloGold Ashanti’s youth apprenticeship programme.

An opportunity to work in AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi mine remains an aspiration of many residents, especially indigenes of Obuasi.

But the introduction of an apprenticeship programme by mining giant to train the youth in its Adansi catchment with entrepreneurial and employable skills appears to have changed the narrative of residents wanting to work at all cost in the mines .

Some residents, including women, are taking advantage of free training provided by the AngloGold Ashanti in trades such as welding, fabrication and auto engineering to change their lot.

The suspension of operations at the AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi mine, which until now employed thousands of residents, adversely affected the economy of Obuasi.

It explained the saying that, Obuasi is the mine; the Mine is Obuasi.

But with the resuscitation of the mine, following the launch of a redevelopment programme in 2019, life has returned into normalcy.

The dream of  many of the teeming youth in Obuasi is to work in the mine to better their lots.

But the introduction of apprenticeship and entrepreneurial programmes means residents waiting to be employed can acquire skills at no cost thanks to AGA’s benevolence.

This forms part of efforts by AngloGold Ashanti to develop resilient and socio-economically self-sustaining communities in its catchment in the next 10-years.

At least, 230 youth in Obuasi are benefiting from this scheme as they receive training in dress making, welding and fabrication, among others.

One of them is Vera Akomeah Agyin, a former restaurant attendant, undergoing training in welding and fabrication. She has been at the Mac Partners Training Institute for the past one year alongside others to acquire a skill to earn a living.

With this new training, Vera has pulled the brakes on that burning desire inside her to work at the mine ‘at all cost’.

“I know that even if I didn’t get the chance to work in the mine, I can open my own shop and work there”.

Besides the skills training, residents are taking advantage of the presence of the KNUST Obuasi campus to acquire knowledge that will position them to work in the mine in the future.

A Level 400 Metallurgical student and a native of Obuasi tells Joynews his desire to work at the mine influenced his decision to read this current course.

“Growing up, I know a lot about Galamsey [illegal Mining] and gold. As a child, I know that gold sells a lot. So growing up, I took interest in gold", he said.”

His desire to work on gold influenced selection of courses and the Obuasi Campus of KNUST, a decision which has helped him come closer to AngloGold Ashanti.

Here, he has opportunity to sit in class with few colleagues to receive the best of attention from lecturers.

“I actually wanted to be a Geological Engineer but  then God knows best. I chose Geology as first then Metallurgy second because Metallurgy is also related to gold processing and by God’s grace, I had the chance to pursue Metallurgy Engineering,” he added.

“It has been a blessing a lot and I have really gone to know a lot of people  in the industry here at AGA.”

Senior Sustainability Manager, Emmanuel Baidoo, said AGA through a 10-year Socio-Economic Plan intend to make Obuasi self-sustaining

“ There’s clearly something good that we are doing and we are encouraged to continue to do those things that we are doing in particular, implementing our 10-year socio-economic development plan,” he said.

“We want to remain focused. I believe the Obuasi people want to see development; they want to see improvement in lives. We definitely have a role to play", he concluded.