The Graduate Apprenticeship and Training Programme of the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation has emerged as a flagship intervention transforming youth employability in the Tarkwa and Damang mining communities, with a total investment of about US$4.8 million committed to skills development initiatives over the years.
Launched in 2018, the Graduate Training Programme is designed to provide tertiary graduates from Gold Fields’ host communities with a two-year structured, hands-on apprenticeship across various departments of the company.
The programme offers practical industry exposure that bridges the gap between academic theory and workplace demands, equipping participants with relevant competencies required in the mining and allied sectors.
Since its inception, 261 graduates have successfully passed through the programme, many of whom have gone on to secure employment or pursue further studies.
Speaking at a Graduation Dinner for the third cohort of the Foundation’s Graduate Training Programme, the Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Gold Fields Ghana, Mr. Elliot Twum, described education and skills training as a strategic investment in human capital.
“Our focus is to equip young people from our host communities with relevant skills that make them competitive, employable and capable of contributing meaningfully to national development,” he stated.
Mr. Twum noted that beyond practical, on-the-job training, participants also receive Minerals Commission (MinCom) certifications and Lean Six Sigma White Belt certifications, enhancing their knowledge in regulatory compliance, process improvement and operational excellence.
“These certifications strengthen their industry readiness and professional competence, positioning them strongly for career opportunities,” he added.
He revealed that the programme’s impact was already visible, with 17 trainees from the current cohort securing employment, six from Damang and eleven from Tarkwa, while one graduate has proceeded abroad to pursue further studies.
The Lead Specialist for Community Relations and Sustainability at Gold Fields Ghana, Mr. Robert Siaw, expressed confidence that the graduates would take initiative and assume leadership roles that positively influence both their workplaces and communities.
According to him, the early employment outcomes reflect strong industry confidence in the competence and preparedness of the trainees, reaffirming the Foundation’s commitment to supporting youth employment and career progression.
Mr Siaw encouraged the graduates to uphold professionalism, integrity and discipline as they transition into the next phase of their careers.
The Gold Fields Ghana Foundation’s broader youth development interventions also include a Scholarship Scheme, Community Apprenticeship Programme, Heavy Duty Mine Equipment Training, Mine Apprenticeship Training, and Precision Welding Training, all aimed at enhancing local capacity and sustainable development in host communities.
The ceremony, which also marked the end of the year, concluded with goodwill messages and best wishes to the graduates as they prepared to enter the job market.
Serving as Special Guest of Honour, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Professor Grace Ofori-Sarpong, commended the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation for its sustained commitment to human resource development.
She challenged the graduates to aim higher and remain relevant in a fast-changing world of work, urging them to become solution-oriented professionals capable of identifying problems and creating value wherever they find themselves.
For more news, join The Chronicle Newspaper channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBSs55E50UqNPvSOm2z
