AngloGold Ashanti has demonstrated its commitment towards youth empowerment as enshrined in their 10-year Socioeconomic Development Plan (SEDP) by donating tools and equipment to 10 mastercraft persons (beauticians and hairdressers), to train 19 youth apprentices from Sanso.

Dubbed the Sanso Apprenticeship to Entrepreneurship (A2E) Project, the initiative seeks to support the unemployed youth in Sanso with the required tools and on-the-job apprenticeship training with the master craft person for a period between eight to 12 months.

The mastercraft persons will also be given technical training and entrepreneurship training to enhance their teaching skills.

The beneficiaries on the other hand will be given entrepreneurship training alongside the NVTI certificate examination.

According to Daniel Arthur-Bentum, the Economic Development Superintendent of AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine, the decision to roll out the Sanso A2E project was influenced by the outcome of an engagement AGA had with the people of Sanso.

The majority of the youth of Sanso expressed interest in learning a trade but did not have adequate resources to enrol.

He said the project is targeted at equipping the youth in the community with the requisite skills to make them self-sufficient.

He again mentioned that a well-thought-out exit plan has been put in place, where after completing their training, AngloGold Ashanti will resource beneficiaries with start-up kits to launch their careers.

The Assembly Member for the Sanso Electoral Area, Justice Ofori Amanfo commended AngloGold Ashanti for their resolve to empower the youth in the area with employable skills.

Alice Twumasi, a hairdresser, said the Sanso Apprenticeship to Entrepreneurship (A2E) Project is the right approach to dealing with youth unemployment in the area.

She advised the beneficiaries to leverage the project to make them economically independent.

The Sanso (A2E) Project forms part of our youth empowerment strategies included in the 10-Year Social and Economic Development Plan (SEDP), which is aimed at contributing to building resilient and socio-economically self-sustaining communities in Obuasi.

The project is targeted at creating jobs and improving the livelihoods of youth within the Sanso community.