Bussiness
Obuasi Enterprise and Skills Development Center to boost local economy inaugurated
An Enterprise and Skills Development Center, serving as a one-stop hub to provide solutions to local businesses and also support skills development and capacity building, has been inaugurated at Obuasi in the Ashanti Region.
The project, jointly executed by AngloGold Ashanti Ghana (AGAG), Obuasi Mine, and the AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Community Trust Fund, aims to boost the local economy of the mining community.
It comes with varied facilities, including a multipurpose conference and training unit, business unit, fully-equipped industrial sewing, and bead-making units, a fully-equipped workshop, hand sanitizer production unit, and eight mini-meeting areas.
Dr Eric Asubonteng, Managing Director of the AGAG, Obuasi Mine, said the project was in line with the Enterprise Development Programme under the Social Management Plan of the company.
The Programme, according to him, had provided business solution support to about 600 businesses at Obuasi, covering women-owned businesses and artisans to enhance their productive capacity, efficiency, and ability to compete on the market.
He added that the Center also aimed at functioning as an anchor for the private sector development objective of the AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Community Trust Fund.
Under the Trust Fund’s Skills Development Programme, 60 master craft persons have been trained in leather works, bead craft, and fashion design, amongst others.
“Undoubtedly, the Obuasi Enterprise and Skills Development Centre has the potential to boost the local economy by developing market ready training programmes that will improve the living conditions of our youth and enhance their self-reliance,” Dr. Asubonteng observed.
He was hopeful the Center would, to a large extent, improve both human and economic capital, and assist in the development and fast flow of business activities in the mining community and other host communities.
Mr Simon Osei-Mensah, the Regional Minister, lauded the mining company for resuscitating the local economy, saying, the Center added up to the many initiatives designed to equip the people with employable skills.
“Any economy whose strength is dependent on the private sector is bound to succeed,” he noted, citing how the likes of China, Japan, Germany, amongst others, had built resilient informal sectors to underpin sustainable growth.
Consequently, the people ought to avail themselves of the programmes offered at the Center to empower them for wealth creation, he advised.
Nana Oppong Boakye Yiadom, Board Member of the AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Community Trust Fund, lauded the mining company for resourcing the Fund to meet its expectations.
He called on the people, especially the youth, to embrace employable skills training courses to open up opportunities for them to establish their own businesses.
The event had the presence of traditional authorities within the catchment area of the Obuasi Mine. -GNA
Ghana’s gold and minerals sector is set for a major spotlight as Meetings. Co, in partnership with key industry stakeholders, announces the Mining & Minerals Convention 2025, scheduled from August 26-27, 2025, at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra.
Held under the theme “Shaping the Future of Ghana’s Gold Industry,”‘ the Convention will convene government leaders, regulators, miners, refiners, investors, sustainability partners, innovators, and responsible mining, and global competitiveness,policy experts to explore strategies that position Ghana’s gold industry for long-term growth.
The two-day convention will feature presidential and ministerial keynote addresses, industry thought leadership, technical paper presentations, policy dialogues, fireside chats, exhibitions, and high-level networking sessions.
Convention delegates can anticipate a dynamic and insightful experience, marked by thought leadership from leading policymakers and regulators, in-depth discussions on key topics such as sustainability, ESG, digital gold, and responsible sourcing, as well as valuable opportunities to forge public-private partnerships and investment deals.
Moreover, the event will offer practical action points aimed at unlocking greater economic value for Ghana.
The 2025 edition will be supported by a strong coalition of strategic partners, including the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Minerals Commission, GoldBod, the Minerals Income and Investment Fund (MIIF), and the Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI).
The Minister for Finance Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson has disclosed that a sum of nine hundred and Eighty-Seven Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Five thousand and Seventy-Three Ghana Cedis (GHS987,965,073.00) from the Consolidated Fund into the District Assembly Common Fund Account, being the first quarter amount due to the DACF.
Furthermore, the Finance Minister informed the House that a total amount of Two Billion, Thirty- Three Million, Four Hundred and Sixty-Nine Thousand, Six Hundred and Seven Ghana Cedis (GHS2,033,469,607) has been disbursed to the National Health Insurance Fund.
While the Ghana Education Trust Fund has also received a total of Two Billion, Seven and Ten Million, Two Hundred and Twenty-Seven Ghana Cedis (GHS2,710,227,947.00) for the months January, February, March and April,2025.
The Finance Minister disclosed this in his statement to Parliament on the payments to statutory funds on the floor of the House.
In addition, he cautioned that the Administrator of the District Assembly Common Fund is required to ensure that 80% of this amount is transferred directly to the Assemblies without fail and expenditure returns submitted to the Ministry of Finance before subsequent releases will be made.
He added that Members are encouraged to monitor the utilization of these amounts sent to their respective Assemblies in line with the approved guidelines by Cabinet.
In his closing remark, Ato Forson said he’s going to take the concerns of the House seriously.
For his part, the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga made known the President’s prioritization of women in the country stating that President Mahama is “Pro-women”.
This is due to the fact that women are going to be the core beneficiaries from the expenditures going to be made by the MMDA’s, he added.
The Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin questioned the Finance Minister why road contractors have not been paid for more than five months. He said the Minister must not be applauded for since the allocation of these funds were long overdue.
