In an effort to change the economic narrative of Obuasi and its environs, AngloGold Ashanti (AGA), Obuasi Mine, has rolled out a number of projects to provide social mobility for the residents in its catchment areas.
As such, AGA has set up institutions such as AGAMAL, AGA Health Foundation, AGA Schools and Obuasi Community Trust Fund to improve the quality of life of the masses.
Above all, it has launched a 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP), which aims to contribute towards resilient and socio-economically self-sustaining communities, a blueprint for AGA’s community and social investment towards building resilient and socio-economically self-sustaining communities.
SEDP is an extensive stakeholder consultation, which is in line with the Local Development Plans of the Obuasi Municipal and Obuasi East District Assembly, National Development priorities of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Among some of the areas where SEDP has impacted in AGA’s operations areas are: Social Development; Diversified and Sustained Economy; Accessibility to Quality Health Services; Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene; Community Infrastructure; Skills and Entrepreneurship.
Since 2019 and 2022, AGA has paid US$973,612 into the Obuasi Community Trust Fund, and invested US$4.36 million outside the fund.
These projects, The Chronicle understands, seek to build a resilient economy for Obuasi. Part of this resilience is to arm the youth with employable skills, which would help them to eke out a decent living.
These revelations came to the fore during a one day SEDP Media Learning function which was held recently in Obuasi to enlighten journalists on efforts AGA is making to diversify the Obuasi economy since the mine cannot employ all the residents in the mining town. The SEDP Media Learning Tour formed part of the SEDP engagement and communication strategy.
The objective of the media tour was to provide a direct platform for Ghanaian journalists to obtain first-hand information on contribution of AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi mine on socio-economic contribution.
As part of the event, AGA took the media on a tour of some areas in Obuasi where its socio-economic contributions had impacted. Such areas included health, education, water and sanitation, and entrepreneurship, among others, where SEDP and other AGA interventions were changing the narrative of Obuasi.
On the skills and entrepreneurship development, AGA has armed the youth in Obuasi and its environs with apprenticeship and employable skills and are able to eke out a decent living.
Among some of the areas are Establishment of Skills and Enterprise Developed Centre, Fashion and Leather Centre through the auspices of the AGA Trust Fund; training and coaching of 384 SMEs; training of 535 artisans; AngloGold Ashanti Engineering School in operation through partnership with Macpartners Mining construction Limited; Graduation of 230 youth from Youth Apprenticeship Programme, Furnishing of Training Centre of Person Living with Disabilities (PDWDs) at Obuasi among others.
On the health front, AGA has constructed an ultra-modern Maternity Block; refurbished and upgraded a health centre at Anyinam, establishment of a second largest referral hospital in the Ashanti Region and others in the Obuasi health sector.
Moreover, AGA Provided potable drinking water for seven communities namely Bidieso, Ntonsua, Kwabrafoso, Creeky, Baakoyeden, New Bediem and Wiowso; Construction of 20-seater public lavatory for Ankyimadukrom; Supported the establishment of KNUST Obuasi Campus with northern mine infrastructure of AGA Obuasi Mine donated among others. Since 2019, the AGA School has been adjudged the best BECE performing school in Ashanti region.
Speaking to some of the beneficiaries of these Skills and Entrepreneurship, Mr. Maxwell Amakor, a civil engineer who is into construction technologist explained he initially wanted to be recruited into AGA, but having enrolled in the entrepreneurship programme, I have learned about certain areas where he has to focus in order to thrive in life.
Asked about the kind of support he received from AGA, Amakor responded that they gave him funding, exposure and opportunity to rub shoulders with well-established companies in contract tendering.
Reacting to assertion that AGA is not recruiting the youth of Obuasi, he noted that that is the rumour out there.
“The truth is once you avail yourself; once you have something in you, AGA will support you because almost everybody wants to get on the mine and it is not possible.
Let us just face the facts. That is why training and Entrepreneurship programme has been set up by the mine. You come in and enroll free of charge and once you join, you will be able to know yourself very well and how to survive in business.”
Asked about the number of workers he has employed, Amakor disclosed that he has employed forty workers.
Maxwell Amakor expressed appreciation to AGA for giving such an opportunity to some of people like him. He asked his peers to embrace the skill and entrepreneurship development of the AGA since the mine cannot employ everyone.
In an event of another beneficiary named, Alex Antwi, a former illegal miner who used to blast stones underground, but has now set up an orange juice business called Obuasi Ankawuo, having enrolled in the AGA Skill and Entrepreneurship Development programme, he disclosed to this paper that when he enrolled at the programme, he thought he was going to be given money.
However, he later realised that the programme seeks to help participants to be able to come out with a business solution in order to eke out a decent living on their own and upon hard work and determination , he has been able to set up an orange juice business and even employed others as well.
To Antwi, this is a decent business which would deter him from going into illegal mining.
He said: “If I compare the explosive and smoke which I breathe underground, coupled with military escapades I battle, I believe this orange juice business will give me peace than galamsey. Even the police sometimes patronise my business.”
He, therefore, urged his colleagues who are into galamsey to take advantage of the opportunity given by AGA.
Earlier Mr. Emmanuel Baidoo, the Sustainability Manager at AGA, told the media the SEDP Programme is a rigorous programme drawn by consultations with stakeholders within and out of Obuasi and minority groups to change the narrative of Obuasi.
According to him, the objective of AGA is to build a resilient economy for Obuasi and its environs.
“The SEDP represents the Social Investment Strategy for the Obuasi Mine for the period 2022-2031. It is in addition to the mine’s commitment of paying $2 for every ounce of gold mined into the AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Community Trust Fund.
It seeks to support the Municipal and District Assemblies’ plans to improve the socio-economic wellbeing of the people,” he said. “It prioritises the mine’s host communities and the traditional capitals of the Paramount and Divisional Stools to which the host communities belong.”
Baidoo told the media that continuous implementation of the SEDP is aligned with the business sustainability and performance of the mine and will be built into the annual business plan of the mine for budgeting purposes.
