The Obuasi Mine of AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) has organised a sensitisation programme to empower former and current employees of the company to set up their own small scale businesses to improve their livelihoods.

A statement by the AGA and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Thursday said the programme, which was dubbed the “Entrepreneurial Night”, was organised in collaboration with the traditional authorities of Obuasi.

The one day event was attended by representatives from the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), Technoserve Ghana, Ghana Chamber of Mines, local Non-governmental organizations, religious groups, the Municipal Assembly, the media and market women.

Addressing the participants, Senior Manager of Sustainability, Obuasi, Mr Aboagye Ohene Adu, said in spite of the numerous challenges confronting the mine, the company was still committed to its value of making the communities better off by continuously investing in the communities and its people.

He explained that the planned down -scaling of the Obuasi operation has had some effect on employees but assured that management was committed to the future viability and profitability of the mine.

On the Obuasi Sustainability Rejuvenation Project, Mr Ohene Adu explained that a five man team had been formed to collect and collate information on the social and economic

dynamics of the municipality and its surrounding environs as well as liaising with relevant stakeholders in the private and public sector.

“Their unanimous blessing of the project has empowered us in a big way to work hard to put up a platform for the people to set up their own businesses, which in the long run, will reposition Obuasi as a leading hub for small scale business,” he said.

He said from Obuasi Adansi North and South to Amansie Central Districts, opportunities abound in sectors such as tourism, agro processing, infrastructural development, health, quarrying and many others and appealed to all stakeholders to join hands with the working committee to unlock those opportunities.

Mr Kwaku Awuku, Senior Manager, Human Resources, who chaired the function, urged both internal and external shareholders, to stand behind the mine, “so that we can grow and develop the municipality and the mine for our mutual benefit”.

Contributions were made by Mr Ofori Agyemang, Municipal Chief Executive; Moses Parker of Medeama Football Club, representatives of NBSSI; Mrs. Yvonne Adomako Assebere , Chief Executive Officer of La Vie and Mr Joseph Amoako of Joe Amoako Auto Shop.

AngloGold Ashanti is a global gold mining company and the world’s third largest gold producer.

Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, AngloGold Ashanti has 20 operations on four continents and one of the gold industry’s most successful exploration teams which work across both the established and new gold producing regions of the world.