Newmont’s Akyem Mine absorbs three apprentice welders

The Akyem Mine of Newmont Golden Ridge Limited, has absorbed three apprentice welders who recently passed out after three years of intensive apprenticeship training at its Mining Department.

They are George Anim Denkyi, Godfred Blay and Ibrahim Acheampong, indigenes from the Akyem Mine host communities. They went through three years of Mine Maintenance Welder Apprentice training modules designed to equip them with employable specialised technical skills, to meet new business challenges in the Mine Maintenance Unit of the company’s Mining Department.

At a ceremony to mark the successful completion of the programme at New Abirem, the three were presented with City and Guilds of London Institute and Newmont Certificates as well as appointment letters to usher them into the company as mine maintenance welders. Mr Kevin Moxham, Akyem Mine General Manager, expressed happiness that Newmont’s key objective of providing employment to the people from the Mine’s host communities is working out successfully.

He expressed optimism that with dedication and collaboration with key stakeholders a lot more of such successes could be achieved. Nana Kwasi Amo Kyeretwie I, Abiremhene, on behalf of the chiefs and people of the area, expressed his appreciation to Newmont for employing the three from the host communities.

He said Newmont would work hand in hand with key community stakeholders to provide more opportunities to the youth who have been enrolled onto the apprenticeship programme. Acheampong on behalf of his colleagues thanked Management for the opportunity given them as Newmont employees and gave the assurance that they would work hard to justify the trust and confidence reposed in them.

Meanwhile, 15 more apprentices, comprising 10 for Mine Maintenance, two for Process Electrical and three for Process Mechanic, are on the programme and are expected to complete their training in 2015.

The Newmont Apprenticeship Programme was instituted to provide opportunities for semi-skilled persons from host communities to be given both theoretical and on the job technical training and are roistered to work in all the shops during their field 'on-the-job’ training.

They pass out as Fixed Plant Mechanical, Fixed Plant Electrical, Mine Maintenance and Process Operations technicians well equipped to work in any Mine facility.

Each trainee is awarded a City and Guilds of London Institute and Newmont Certificates and based on employment availability are offered jobs by Newmont upon completion. So far a total of 62 apprentices have benefited from the training, some of whom are currently in a four-year apprenticeship programme at the Akyem Mine.