Anglogold Ashanti Employs 14 Winder Engine Drivers After Training

AngloGold Ashanti Ghana, Obuasi Mine has given employment opportunities to 14 out of the 28 youth who went through a successful 2–3-year training program in winder engine driving.

The training program which saw all the 28 trainees selected from communities in Obuasi formed part of AngloGold Ashanti’s Youth Apprenticeship program targeted at developing the human capital in its host communities.

The trainees included 7 women who were also taken through rigorous training in operating and maintaining winder engines, ensuring the smooth and reliable transportation of humans and materials in the mine, all under the tutelage of experienced trainers.

Giving details about the rationale behind the training program, the Senior Manager, Engineering AngloGold Ashanti Ing. Eric Broni said AngloGold Ashanti after discovering a gap in the field of Winder Engine Driving decided to focus on giving opportunities to youth in Obuasi, train them and prepare them for the job market.

“We realized the need to extend this opportunity to the youth in Obuasi by training them and presenting them with the skills set to be ready for the job market. Even if AngloGold cannot absorb all, we are optimistic their skills will be useful for other mining companies”, he stressed.

The AngloGold Ashanti Youth Apprenticeship program introduced by the company in 2019 as part of their Social Management Plan, to train more of the youth in their host communities has so far trained over 300 youth. According to Ing. Broni who himself was a beneficiary of similar training program tasked the trainees to be good ambassadors of the program and realize that their newly acquired expertise will improve the efficiency of mining operations, contributing to increased productivity and profitability.

The Community Relations Manager, AGAG Edmond Oduro Agyei assured that the company is committed to giving more opportunities to the youth in their host communities through skills development and employment opportunities.

He said the company recongnizes the symbiotic relationship between human capital development and economic development hence will leave no stone unturned in their quest to support youth development through their plethora of training programs.

“We believe as we develop the skills of the youth, we are creating opportunities for them to be employable. This way, we can contribute to developing the economy of Obuasi”.

Meanwhile Nana Bosompim Kitikyie Apenteng II, the Kontihene of Dompoase who represented the Dompoasehene commended AngloGold Ashanti for their unwavering commitment to hone the skills of youth in Obuasi.

He charged the trainees to make good use of the skills acquired and contribute to creating a congenial atmosphere for AGAG to thrive.

“Once you are beneficiary of this training by AngloGold, you should tell your people about what AGA is doing and let’s all come together to speak against those who are making it difficult for AGA to work by invading their concessions” the Kontihene of Dompoase added.

Mrs. Priscilla Edmundson, one of the trainee graduates and the first female Winder Engine Driver at AngloGold Ashanti told the media about how the training has impacted positively on her life, giving her the opportunity to work with AngloGold Ashanti.

“I remain grateful for the opportunity giving to us by AngloGold Ashanti, the trust reposed in the women who were part of it knowing winder engineer driving has been seen as the preserve of men”.

She further encouraged more women to accept the challenge and work in the mining sector saying that there are several opportunities available to women in the sector.