Damang (W/R), March 2, GNA-Gold Fields Ghana Limited (GFGL), Damang Mine through the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation (GFGF) has commenced the community apprenticeship training programme for 48 youth in its operational area.
An amount of US$120,000 would be spent on the programme for two years.
Mr Abdel-Razak Yakubu, Community Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement Manager, announced this at a review meeting, six months after the inception of the programme.
“What we have observed is that, out of the 48 people who started the programme, one person has dropped out and we have started the necessary processes to replace that particular person,” he said.
He noted that, “after graduation, beneficiaries would write the National Vocational Technical Institute’s (NVTI) examination to be certified artisans and with that certificate they can attract lots of contracts and other opportunities around.”
He explained that the programme was aimed at creating sustainable employable skills for the youth in their host communities.
“People depend on Gold Fields for employment, but the mine is not growing bigger after 20 years of mining, it’s rather shrinking so we encourage people to go into apprenticeship, learn their own trade and become employers in future,” Mr Yakubu stated.
The Regional Manager, Community Relations, GFGL, Mr Robert Siaw, advised the beneficiaries to work hard and be disciplined throughout the programme.
Dr Isaac Dasmani, Municipal Chief Executive for Prestea Huni-Valley, praised GFGF and urged other institutions to emulate the gesture to help reduce the unemployment rate among the teeming youth.
GNA