Thirty young people from the Talensi District in the Upper East Region are set to undergo a two-year technical training programme aimed at equipping them with skills for employment at Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited (CNML), a subsidiary of Shandong Gold.
The initiative, launched on Saturday, is part of efforts to address the long-standing challenge where locals are unable to secure jobs in the large-scale mining operations due to lack of required technical skills.
The programme is being implemented by CNML in collaboration with Golden Dynasty Company Limited (GDCL), which manages the processing plant operations of the mine. It will combine theoretical and practical training in plant operations and maintenance, with participants expected to gain hands-on experience over the two years.
Speaking at the launch, Vice President for Corporate Social Responsibility and Security at CNML, Qi Xuanya, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to building a skilled local workforce.
“This programme aims to equip selected youth with practical technical skills in plant operations and maintenance. Over the next two years, trainees will gain hands-on experience to prepare them for meaningful employment in the mining sector,” he stated.
He added that the programme offers a clear pathway for career advancement, noting that beneficiaries would have the opportunity to register with the Minerals Commission and become certified mine workers upon completion.
“Upon successful completion, you will be positioned for employment across Ghana’s mining industry,” he emphasized.
Community and Social Responsibility Superintendent at CNML, Mazwell Wooma, explained that the initiative was designed to bridge the skills gap that has often limited local participation in mining jobs.
“A lot of the time, when adverts go out for locals to join the project, the requirements are not met. That is why we introduced this training programme to empower local talents with the skills required for these jobs,” he said.
He urged the trainees to take the opportunity seriously, stressing that their performance would determine the sustainability of the programme and future opportunities for others in the community.
“If you take this opportunity for granted, it will not only affect you but also limit chances for others. You must show that our communities need this training,” he cautioned.
Mr. Wooma further noted that the programme forms part of a broader strategy by the company to ensure a “win-win” relationship between the mine and host communities through employment, training, and local economic participation.
Providing further details, Human Resources Manager at Golden Dynasty Company Limited, Miss Jemima Ofori, said the training programme was developed after the company identified a gap in sourcing skilled labour locally.
“We realised that we weren’t getting the necessary skills needed for the process plant, so we designed this programme to build the capacity of young people from the catchment communities,” she explained.
She indicated that trainees were selected through a rigorous process involving community nominations, aptitude tests, and medical screening, and would be taken through structured modules covering areas such as crushing, milling, and flotation.
“Every six months, trainees will be assessed, and after the full two-year period, they will have the competencies required to work in the process plant and become employable,” she added.
Out of the 30 beneficiaries, 20 were newly selected through the training programme, while the remaining participants are existing local workers already engaged by Golden Dynasty, who will now receive formal training.
The initiative is expected to significantly enhance local participation in mining operations and reduce unemployment among youth in the Talensi District, while also strengthening relations between the mining company and its host communities.
A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|Talensi
