Unemployed youth in Obuasi, on Wednesday, poured onto the streets of Obuasi to draw the attention of the government to their continued state of unemployment and the need to create jobs for the youth and also bring down the cost of living in the country.
The demonstration was to demand immediate interventions from the government, as the youth, mostly graduates of tertiary institutions, claimed they were struggling to make ends meet upon graduation. Wearing red bands, the angry youth, from mining communities in the Obuasi enclave, displayed placards which portrayed a simple message: “We are hungry and need jobs.
Mr. Emmanuel Kofi Ayamga, leader of the demonstrating youth, indicated that though they were engaged in community mining as approved by the government, Anglo Gold Ashanti (AGA) had stopped them from operating.
He said the AGA was located in the area, but was not employing them, as a result of which they had petitioned both the Municipal and District Chief Executives in the area to intervene.
Ms. Faustina Amissah, Obuasi East District Chief Executive (DCE), who received the petition from the youth, has relayed the missive to the Ashanti Regional Minister for onward transmission to the government.
She assured the youth that she would continue to engage with them until a solution was found to their problem.
Meanwhile, Mr. Emmanuel Baidoo, Sustainability Manager of AGA, has indicated that the company had not released some parts of its concession for mining operations, stressing that the AGA concession remained its own.
