The AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine has sponsored 25 women in five farming communities in Obuasi to pursue a training course in soap and bead-making, as part of their livelihood empowerment process.

The three-week programme, which falls in line with the company’s community values, benefited women from New Dokyiwaa, Kokotesua, Nhyiaso, Binsere and Abompe communities.

A statement issued by the Company, and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Saturday, said the programme was meant to create alternative income earning opportunities for the people towards easing their dependency on the mine.

It said the ‘anti-poverty’ aspect of it was to train the women to generate independent income that would help them to support their homes.

The statement said the company, listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange, spent about

GH¢20,000 on the programme.

At a graduation ceremony to congratulate the successful women at Wawase, a suburb of Obuasi in the Ashanti Region, Mr John Kowus Owusu, Senior Manager of Communications and Public Affairs of the company, encouraged beneficiaries to take advantage of the skills acquired to enable them to face the challenges of the current economy.

According to him, it was best for the women to support their husbands in catering for the home as the world was not becoming favourable for the unemployed.

He also said the mine was facing some challenges, for which management was engaging key stakeholders, including the communities, and government for support.

“The mine will continue to count on your support to ensure the operation is rebuilt on sound footing for our mutual growth and development”, Mr Owusu said.

Nana Ampofo Bekoe, the Manager for AngloGold Ashanti Social and Economic Development, explained that the programme became a reality through a comprehensive assessment on the actual needs of women in the communities.

“Majority of them suggested skills, which will enable them to collectively ease their dependence on the mine and work independently on their own”, he said.

Nana Ampofo stated that AngloGold Ashanti would continue to invest in the communities where it operated to improve the social and economic lives of the people.

He also advised the women to work as a team and to support each other in their skills for the benefit of their communities.

Madam Grace Boateng, who facilitated the training, commended AngloGold Ashanti for its gesture and also urged the women to use their skills profitably.