New Abirem (E/R), Dec 1, GNA – As part of bridging gender gap in the predominantly male dominated mining sector and open up opportunities for young women, Newmont Ghana- Akyem Mines has offered a four-month top-up training programme for 15 ladies.
They are ready to invest in their personal advancement in order to support community and national development.
Participants were selected from 10 host communities such as Mamaso, Adausena, Yayaaso, Ntronang, Afosu, Adjenua, Hweakwae and New Abirem.
The beneficiaries went through training in basic mathematics, computing, occupational health and safety, environmental management, communication skills, Curriculum Vitae writing, interview skills among others.
Speaking on the theme: ’Creating Value through Partnership’, Mr. Derek Boateng, the Senior Manager- Sustainability and External Relations at the Newmont Golden Ridge Limited, Akyem Mines said the Programme was designed specifically for young women in the Mine host communities to increase their competitive advantage towards employment opportunities within and outside the mines.
He said since the inception of the Programme in 2019, 25 young ladies benefited and plans were underway to add up to the number in the coming years.
He said the Programme had also helped to improve the skills and technical know how of beneficiaries and had prepared them for the job market.
Mr Boateng said the initiative formed part of the company’s broad skill enhancement that was intended to open up employment opportunities for the teeming youth in their host communities.
He said the company in its quest to create value and improve lives, would continue to demonstrate its commitment to sustain their host communities, business partners and the nation as a whole.
This, Mr Boateng added would help to pursue progressive initiatives such as the female top- up training programmes that would support broad- based social and economic development of the people.
He said aside the female top-up Programme in their host communities, there were other initiatives that included the learnership and apprenticeship training programmes that was under the umbrella of Newmont Ghana’s broad skills enhancement.
He said Newmont’s presence in the Birim North District was meant to serve as catalyst for local economic development and investing in such programmes through the Newmont Akyem Development Foundation (NAKDeF), the company had demonstrated their purpose that had helped to create value and improve lives through responsible mining.
Mr Boateng said as a mining company, Safety, health and wellness of its employees was key in recognizing, assessing and managing risk both home and at work devoid of any fatalities, injuries and illness.
He advised the graduands to use the skills acquired from the Programme to enhance their livelihoods and help in the development of their respective communities.
Mr Boateng entreated the public to take advantage of the National COVID-19 vaccination programme to protect themselves and families.
Obrempong Akwasi Amoh Kyeretwie I, the Chief of Abirem and the Acting Kotoku Gyaasehene on his part commended Newmont Ghana for the gesture and entreated the beneficiaries to use the skills they had acquire to better their living standard.
He charged the company to provide loans, start-up kits and engage beneficiaries to enable them have employable skills for a better future.
Ms Evelyn Banahene, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries thanked Newmont Ghana for the gesture and promised to use the knowledge acquired to create jobs opportunities for themselves.
GNA