By Erica Apeatua Addo
Tarkwa (W/R), September 14, GNA-Mr. Daniel Boadi, the Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, has urged final years students at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, to look beyond the local market and target global opportunities as they prepare to exit.
Citing the mining engineering profession as a case study, he disclosed that from 2000 to date, the UMaT alone had produced over 2,500 mining engineers.
He said per his calculations, the Ghanaian mining industry has about 600 roles already filled, and those professionals were not retiring anytime soon, with most expected to remain in those positions for at least another 10 years.
Mr. Boadi gave the advice at the UMaT, when he addressed final year students at the 2026 Exit in Readiness Student Mentorship Programme organised by the Mine, in collaboration with the University.
“Becoming Employable in the Age of AI and Innovation” was the theme for this year’s programme.
Mr Boadi explained that the UMaT said in the next decade, another 3, 000 mining engineers were likely to be graduated into the same local market.
Mr. Boadi said research from McKinsey & Company and TPD Workforce Solutions revealed that while their domestic market is saturated, the international mining industry faced an unprecedented technical talent deficit.
According to him, the shortage was driven by mass retirement and a 40% to 60% drop in university enrolments across Western nations, resulting in 25,000 to 45,000 active global vacancies for mining engineers, within a broader workforce deficit of over 300,000 technical roles.
The global energy transition required nearly 300 brand-new major Mines to come online within the next decade, according to joint data from the International Energy Agency and Benchmark Mineral Intelligence.
He added that to power electric vehicles, renewable grids, and modern technology, the world urgently needs to build 60 new copper Mines, 50 new Lithium Mines, 60 new nickel Mines, among others.
“The figure from the leading workforce studies is striking. Sub-Saharan Africa 4,000 to 7,000 active engineering vacancies, with severe deficits in deep-level Mine planning, geotechnical engineering, and rock mechanics” Mr. Boadi indicated
He further said: “Australia:3,000 to 5,000 engineering openings-where the Minerals Council of Australia reports a 60 % drop in domestic graduates. Latin America (Chile and Peru) 3,500 to 6,000 engineering opening drive by massive underground copper and lithium projects.”
The Managing Director emphasised that countries naturally prioritized their own people for jobs, but severe skill shortages compelled the governments and multinational corporations to look elsewhere.
He told the graduates that global recruitment demands exceptional, world-class skills, stressing that, “Your first degree is not the destination, it is merely the foundation. What you build on top of it determines how far you go globally.”
He urged the graduates not to compete with machines by doing routine tasks but instead, leverage AI, robotics, and automation to sharpen their technical edge, while mastering the irreplaceable human qualities such as integrity, critical judgement, adaptability, and courageous leadership.
He said last year alone, the Mine invested GH¢17.2 million in youth development, supported 224 scholars, including 154 UMaT students.
According to Managing Director, the Mine established the USD 750,000 AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Smart Systems Centre to focus on AI and Robotics in addition to the inclusive Tech Laboratory.
He noted that while the investments helped them win back-to-back Mining Company of the Year, their real return on investment was not trophies but seeing UMaT graduates equipped to command respect globally.
Ms. Peace Sitsofe Kploanyi, the Assistant Registrar and Counsellor at the Counselling and Student Support Unit of the UMaT, in her welcoming address, introduced a personal employability formula to help the graduates gain knowledge, competence, and experience required for future employment.
She encouraged the graduates to pay close attention to the speakers, ask bold questions, and leave with practical ideas on how they could do things differently.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter Erica Apeatua Addo
Reporter’s email address: [email protected]