Tarkwa: The Two-Year Apprenticeship Training Programme initiated by Gold Fields has yielded impressive results, as twenty-four out of twenty-nine trainees have secured employment with Kansco Engineering, a contractor currently working at the Mine. The outcome highlights the programme’s effectiveness in addressing unemployment among community youth.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Elliot Twum, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Gold Fields Ghana, made the announcement during the trainee’s graduation ceremony held in Tarkwa. He called on other partners and organizations to emulate Kansco’s example and tap into the pool of talented individuals trained in welding, fabrications, and technical services.
More than US$4 million has been invested in skills training, Mr. Twum revealed, which included 208 beneficiaries of apprenticeship training and 202 in heavy-duty mining equipment training. He noted that the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation started the Mine’s apprenticeship training programme in 2022 to develop human capital and create sustainable livelihood opportunities in their host communities.
The training focused on both theoretical knowledge and practical hands-on experience to ensure that participants gained the required competence to meet industry standards. It was designed to provide technical and entrepreneurial training to community youth in welding and fabrication, a skill set critically needed in the mining and construction sectors.
Mr. Twum added, ‘I am happy to see that among the graduates are 15 women, a testament to Gold Fields’ commitment to empowering women by ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion.’ The programme aims to equip the youth with employable skills and sustainable livelihoods while creating a pipeline for skilled manpower.
He also expressed gratitude to all stakeholders and the Gold Fields Learning and Development team for their expertise in making the programme a success. Each trainee would receive certificates from the Minerals Commission and the South African Institute of Welders. He stressed that ‘the trainees themselves proactively took up the cost in securing certification in advanced welding and fabrication from the Takoradi Technical Institute.’
Mr. Issah Salifu Taylor, the Member of Parliament for the Tarkwa Nsuaem constituency, mentioned that the apprenticeship training programme was a model worth emulating. He stated, ‘I will partner with other companies to provide this valuable training to the youth in various communities. This way, even if they do not work in the Mines, they will have a skill and the means to create their own businesses.’
The MP indicated that this is a great achievement for the constituency and expressed pride in being part of it. He urged politicians to prioritize the interests of the youth and the people they serve.
Nana Abena Boaduwaa II, queen mother of the Apinto Divisional Council, thanked Gold Fields for initiating the programme to help the youth in their operational area. She encouraged the employed trainees to work hard and create pathways for others to access similar opportunities.