The Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation (NADeF), corporate social responsibility arm of Newmont Ahafo Mine, has expanded the reach of its apprenticeship scholarship program to benefit more youth in the host communities.
It is against this background that the Foundation has sponsored 84 additional youth from Kenyasi No. 2 in the Asutifi North District of the Ahafo Region to pursue different apprenticeship trades. The beneficiary youth are learning trades including dressmaking, electricals, hairdressing, tiling, welding, and metal fabrication.
The apprenticeship sponsorship for the 84 persons is estimated to cost GH¢448,089. It covers financial assistance, provision of basic learning tools, feeding stipend, and prescribed uniforms throughout the training period, spanning from three to four years, depending on the type of vocation. This is the sixth batch of beneficiary of trainees from Kenyasi No.2 since 2010.
Speaking at a ceremony held at Kenyasi No.2 to hand over the training tools to the beneficiaries, Prof. Yaw Ofosu-Kusi, Chairperson Board of Trustees, NADeF, said 12,645 individuals from the 10 host communities have so far benefited from both academic and apprenticeship scholarships by the Foundation of which 1,390 were into apprenticeship.
He commended Newmont for financing the initiative aimed at developing the human resource base of the host communities, especially the youth for employment opportunities. He also advised the beneficiaries to take advantage of the training to acquire the necessary skills to make them useful on the job markets.
For his part, Kenyasi No. 2 Dompremhene, Nana Adu Sarpong Kumankuma, thanked NADeF for its commitment to human resource development and urged the beneficiaries to embrace the scholarship as an opportunity to brighten their future and position themselves as proud ambassadors of the apprenticeship program.
About NADeF
NADeF was established in 2008 as a mechanism to manage Newmont’s sustainable community development commitment to the 10 host communities of Newmont’ Ahafo Mine. The mission is to empower communities through grants, knowledge sharing, partnerships, and capacity building for sustainable development.
The Foundation is funded by Newmont Ghana Gold Limited through a commitment of $1 of every ounce of gold produced and 1% of the annual net profit of the Ahafo Mine. As at December 2022, funds received by NADeF amounted to GH¢136,100,000, out of which GH¢76,742,096 has been spent on different projects so far. Newmont Ghana Gold has committed an additional $300,000 for the establishment of cross-community projects.
