AHEAD of operations in the Ahafo North project, Newmont Ghana Gold Limited has trained 72 young people under the construction worker training programme in three specialties in host communities.
The young people, who are all natives of the host communities, received intensive training over a three-month period in welding and fabrication, steel bending, and scaffolding.
The project director at Newmont Ahafo North, Mr Andres Havenga, said the training was delivered in collaboration with partners and contractors.
At a welcome address during graduation and matriculation, Mr Havenga said an additional 48 young people would be trained in masonry and carpentry starting April 11, 2023, all under the initiative to equip the young people for future work in the industry.
Mr Hevenga said the training is part of Newmont’s construction worker training programme aimed at training local artisans from the host communities.
He said as part of the Construction Worker Training programme, 48 more young people were matriculated to be trained in masonry and carpentry.
The training would enhance the trainees’ capacity to meet required standards and obtain approved certifications needed to work for Newmont, Mr Havenga said, adding, “It would also enhance their prospects for future work opportunities within the extractive industry.”
The host communities in the Tano North Municipality benefiting from the initiative include Susuanso, Terchire, Kenyasi No. 1, Kenyasi No. 2, Yamfo, Ntotroso, Gyadu, Wamahinso, Adrobaa, and Afrisipa, all within the Tano North Municipal Assembly.
The Regional Minister for the Ahafo region, Mr George Boakye, commended Newmont for its efforts at giving employable skills to the community members.
He said in an interview that the government alone could not employ all job seekers in the country, even though it has the primary responsibility to provide employment for all its citizens, hence the commendation for Newmont’s construction worker training programme.
Mr Boakye Newmont has been consistent in delivering such support to the host communities, recalling, “This is not the first time. Last year, I attended a similar function in Kenyasi, where about 26 of our youth were taken through some skills training.”
He noted that, apart from the direct investment, the company has also, through regional administration, given GHC 1 million to the municipal assemblies to undertake skills training, adding that some 1,200 people would be trained with that funding.
The Senior Manager, Sustainability & External Relations for Newmont Ahafo North, Mr Joseph Danso, said Newmont Africa recognises training as an excellent opportunity to develop local talents and assist them in acquiring employable skills in the extract industry.
He said over the years, Newmont has established several training programmes targeted at the local youth to develop the human resources of host communities.
These training programmes include apprenticeship learnership, graduate training, female top-up, artisanal small scale mining (galamsey), alternative livelihood training, and the current construction worker training programme.
He noted that the apprenticeship training programme, which started in 2005, has trained 159, with 139 employed with Newmont and 10 employed with contractors.
Mr Danso added that the graduate training programme commenced in 2018 and has enrolled 35 trainees, noting that 21 have graduated and are employed.
The senior manager said the Newmont Subika underground learnership programme, which commenced in 2018, has so far enrolled 20 people, of whom 10 have graduated and nine are employed.
