By Jack Adom
Encouraged by the enthusiasm of the current and ex-employees of AngloGold Ashanti to set up their own businesses in future, the Obuasi mine together with traditional authorities and the Obuasi municipal administration have successfully organized a sensitization project to educate and create more awareness on the initiation and promotion of small scale business.
Dubbed ?Entrepreneurial Night?, the one day inaugural event was massively attended by not only the current employees and those who have already moved on; but also hundreds of other stakeholders from the National Board of Small Scale Industries, Obuasi Municipal Assembly, Technoserve Ghana Chamber of Mines, Market Women, Churches and the Muslim Community, the media and the local Non-governmental organisations.
In his address, Mr Aboagye Ohene Adu, Senior Manager Sustainability of the mine said AGA, inspite of challenges undermining the Obuasi operation of the company, was walking its talk in terms of social investment and would continue to ensure that the people in the communities and the societies where AGA operates benefit from the presence of the company. He said the company was down -scaling the Obuasi operation and that has affected employees working on the mine but assured that management was doing practically what is needed to be done to ensure the future viability and profitability of the mine.
On the nationally – acclaimed Obuasi Sustainability Rejuvenation Project, Mr Ohene Adu explained that a 5 man team under his chairmanship, has been formed and it is currently not only collecting and collating information on the social and economic dynamics of the municipality and its surrounding environs but ?it is also liaising with relevant stakeholders such as AGA employees, municipal authorities, National Board of Small Scale Industries, private businesses, who have already made it; as well as AGA management to ensure that projects been functioned out for the employees and the people in the communities become a reality.
The rejuvenation team; is made up representatives from AGA, the municipal administration and the Adansi Traditional Council, were selected after a stakeholder workshop in Obuasi, which was attended by AGA senior executives, the Paramount Chief of Adansi, three deputy members and two Members of Parliament, as well as the Obuasi Municipal Chief Executive. ?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?.
?The objective of the rejuvenation project?, according Mr Ohene Adu ?is simply to iniate and implement interventions that will facilitate the realization of a sustainable community, independent of mining, within Obuasi community and its environs??. He said from Obuasi Adansi North and South and Amansie Central Districts, Mr Aboagye said opportunities abound in sectors such as tourism, agro processing, infrastructural development, health, quarrying and many others. He appealed to all stakeholders to join hands with the working committee with identify, initiate and implement projects that will diversify the local economy for all.
Mr Kwaku Awuku, Senior Manager, Human Resources, who chaired the function , urged both internal and external shareholders, who attended the function to stand solidly 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 , CEO of La Vie and Mr Joseph Amoako, CEO of Joe Amoako Auto Shop.
