Story by Yaaba Yamikeh, Tarkwa
Fifteen young men and women from Gold Fields Tarkwa Mine host communities in the Western Region, have been trained in domestic and industrial wiring to earn a living for themselves, as well as train and employ others.
Made up of ten males and five females, the beneficiaries went through a one-year intensive training program sponsored by Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, at the Mac Partners Training Institute at Obuasi in the Ashanti Region.
They also went on three months industrial attachment to apply their knowledge and took the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) and Energy Commission examinations to acquire certificates that will usher them into the world of work.
Unfortunately, three of them could not pass the Energy Commission examination and would be assisted by the Foundation to re- write it.
Graduation ceremony
The successful trainees were presented with certificates at a graduation ceremony in Tarkwa last Thursday and were also given working tools by the Foundation to set up their own businesses and not rely on Gold Fields for jobs.
James Lemur from New Atuabo emerged as the Overall Best Trainee and was honoured by the Foundation.
The Executive Secretary of Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, Mr. Abdel Razak Yakubu, expressed optimism that the Foundation’s Community Youth Apprenticeship Programme would help create more jobs for young people in the host communities because there was no way that Gold Fields could employ all of them, adding that the mining company already has five thousand workers.
Mr. Yakubu reiterated that the youth have different talents so Gold Fields saw the need to use the Foundation in offering them employable skills that will enable them to stand on their own feet and not look up to the company for employment.
$4.8m investment
The Tarkwa Mine Manager, Dr. Catherine Kuupol Kuutor, disclosed that one million dollars was spent on training the youth who can now undertake household wiring and install all electrical devices.
She further disclosed that the Foundation has so far invested 4.8 million dollars in offering employable skills and sustainable livelihood opportunities such as welding, hairdressing, dressmaking and auto electricals to 264 youth in line with its vision of creating endurance beyond mining.
Dr. Kuultor indicated that the rationale behind these huge investments is to build competent youth to help develop themselves and the host communities and urged the trainees to live up to expectation.
She also urged employers to offer the trainees opportunities to contribute meaningfully to national development.
”The ball is now in the court of employers because these fifteen talents are ready to assist their businesses grow’, she said.
Commendation
In an address, the deputy executive secretary of the Energy Commission, Mr. Chris Yalley, intimated that skills acquisition is central to national development and commended Gold Fields Ghana Foundation for investing in the youth and supporting programmes that directly uplift host communities.
He urged the trainees to enter the world of work with confidence and use their newly acquired skills and confidence not only to earn a living but to demonstrate excellence wherever they go.
Mr Yalley said the Electrical Wiring Regulations (L.I 2008) gave legal backing to a simple but profound principle that only qualified and certified professionals should undertake electrical wiring.
He said this regulatory framework had therefore placed the responsibility for national electrical safety in the hands of competent practitioners.
He described the May/ June 2025 Certification Examination as “resounding success” because out of 1,163 practitioners who registered nationwide, 944 passed, representing 81.17 percent success rate.
Mr Yalley said Ghana today proudly counts over 18,500 certified electrical wiring professionals and inspectors – an army of skilled experts who uphold safety, quality and standards on daily basis.