Catherine Kuupol Kuutor, the Metallurgical Manager of Abosso Goldfields Limited (Damang mine) was named Female Mining Professional of the Year at the 6th Ghana Mining Industry Awards (GMIA) held in Accra.
The award was in recognition Mrs Kuutor’s immense contribution to the productivity and business success of the Damang mine in 2019.
The GMIA is organised by the Ghana Chamber of Mines, and celebrates excellence and responsible mining in Ghana.
Mrs Kuutor was appointed the Metallurgical Manager for the Damang mine in 2017, becoming the first female to head the Metallurgical Department at Gold Fields Ghana, which operates both the Tarkwa and Damang gold mines in the Western Region.
A Minerals Engineer with over 16 years of experience, Mrs Kuutor said she believed that the recognition would inspire young women to take up Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects in school.
“While this is a great career milestone for me, I believe it will motivate many young women who are interested in pursuing STEM subjects in schools.
“I want to assure young women that nothing can stop them from fulfilling their dreams, even in male-dominated careers. They simply need to be competent,” she added.
She noted that it was also equally important for companies to make a conscious effort to provide female employees with opportunities to develop their full potential and contribute to the success of the organisation.
“Consistently, women have proven that they can excel in all careers, and I see women actively and progressively taking up challenging operational mining roles. I am particularly grateful to Gold Fields for empowering women and providing access to all occupations.”
Mrs Kuutor is currently pursuing her PhD degree at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa.
