Golden Star trains youth for employment
Management of Golden Star Wassa Limited (GSWL), a mining company operating in the Western Region, has launched a community youth apprenticeship, skills, training and employable programme.
Mr Neale Laffin, Managing Director of Operations, Wassa-Bogoso/Prestea mine of the Golden Star Resources Limited (GSRL), announced at the graduation of 44 youths made up of 10 males and 34 females on Saturday at Akyimpim.
He said the graduation of the 44 brings to 244, the total number of youths trained in various employable skills since September 2012 when the programme was launched.
The beneficiaries of the programme received training in designing, beads making, masonry, carpentry, cookery, and repairing of mobile phones.
Other areas of training were in safety practices, emergency response preparedness, heavy duty operation/maintenance, plant maintenance, electrical installation and general plant operation.
They were drawn from the Akyimpim, Ningo, Benso, Awunakrom, Mpohor and Togbekrom communities of the Wassa East District.
Mr Laffin said the training programme, which forms part of the company’s corporate social responsibility, aims “at developing a long term capacity building to provide enduring social and economic benefits from our operations”.
He hoped that the skills acquired would make them employable in their chosen profession as some have the potential to become future entrepreneurs.
The Managing Director noted that a mining company has a lifespan as opportunities keep dwindling both locally and internationally, which require the youth to prepare and position themselves to become self dependent.
It is against this backdrop that the company has established a training programme for the youth, Mr Laffin stated.
Mr Anthony Aggrey, Chief Executive of Wassa East District commended the management of the company for initiating the employable skills programme and admonished the beneficiaries to ensure that the training impacts positively in their lives.
He advised them against indulging in negative practices that would bring the name of the district and their families into disrepute.
Mr Jonathan Essuman, a beneficiary of the programme, on behalf of his colleagues, expressed gratitude to the management and promised that they would work hard to improve their skills.
Source: GNA