AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi mine has successfully completed the first phase in the series of comprehensive training programmes in baking and soap making for the Dokyiwa Peace Women’s Co-operative in the Obuasi Municipality.
It is part of the company’s Livelihood Enhancement Programme for women under the Obuasi mines 10-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP).
Mr. Emmanuel Baidoo, Senior Manager Sustainability AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi mine made this known in a speech read on his behalf by Mr. Daniel Arthur-Bentum Economic Development Superintendent of the company at the closing of the two-week programme.
Mr. Baidoo pointed out that experienced facilitators guided the participants through various practical aspects of baking and soap making, covering topics like recipe development, quality control and entrepreneurial skills, as well as co-operative principles, good governance and group dynamics.
“By providing the members of Dokyiwa Peace Women’s Cooperative with the necessary skills and tools, we are enabling them to take charge of their own future. Therefore, I am very proud to see what the women have achieved in terms of tasty baking treats and the soap they have made after a few days of the training workshop”, Mr. Baidoo added.
The Obuasi Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr. Stephen Tecku, who was extremely happy with what the women had produced after a few days training, commended them for that singular effort.
He stated that AngloGold and the Municipal Assembly have come together to ensure that women groups in Obuasi find something to do hence the training workshop.
‘’We are very proud of you and wish to say that if each of you will train two more people from what you have learnt, we will get seventy in addition to the 35 five here. I encourage you to put into practice what you have learnt to benefit yourselves and your families,” he added.
The assemblyman for Dokyiwa electoral area, Mr. Daniel Osei assured the women that he would do everything in his power to ensure that AngloGold and the assembly collaborate effectively to provide them with a permanent place for them to ply their trade.
The president of Dokyiwa Peace Women Cooperative, Madam Veronica Kuma said her members can now boast of having learnt a trade that will go a long way to help them earn a decent living and thanked AngloGold and the assembly for the support.
From Frederick Danso Abeam, Dokyiwa
