The Obuasi Municipal Assembly (OMA) and the Technology Consultancy Centre for Innovation, Manufacturing, Technology Transfer and Commercialization Centre (TCC-CIMET) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) are set to cooperate to boost job creation in Obuasi through innovation and capacity building.

The objective of the partnership is to establish a framework for collaboration in areas of research, innovation, technology development, and commercialization for businesses, students, and the general inhabitants of the municipality, and to look at ways to reduce overreliance of the people of Obuasi on mining and mining-related services as the main economic activity and source of livelihood.

During a working visit to the Centre on Thursday, 2nd October, 2025, on the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Campus in Kumasi, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Obuasi Municipal, Hon. Faustilove Appiah Kannin, reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to job creation as the topmost priority. She noted that her vision is to see Obuasi develop sustainably, retaining its “Golden City” status while protecting the environment.

Welcoming the OMA delegation on behalf of the Vice Chancellor of KNUST, Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson, the Director-General of TCC-CIMET, Prof. Francis Kofi Davis, highlighted the Centre’s longstanding role as the technical and vocational wing of the University. Touting the credentials of the Centre, the Director-General explained that TTC is the first UNESCO-accredited engineering Centre in Africa and one of only five similar centers globally.

The partnership will seek to cover a wide range of initiatives, including the design of an “Artisan Village” (Obuasi Magazine), where artisans can acquire modern skills in the automobile industry, metal fabrication, smart manufacturing, and renewable energy.

On education, the partnership aims to help elevate Obuasi Secondary Technical School into a model Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) institution and introduce robotics education at the basic school level to nurture future innovators.

The Obuasi delegation also toured the TCC’s Artisan Village at Suame Magazine, where they observed facilities such as the car diagnostic Centre, metal fabrication workshops, lathe turning units, and smart manufacturing facilities.
As a show of commitment to this cooperation, Hon. Faustilove Appiah Kannin presented a draft framework for cooperation for consideration by the management of TCC-CIMET, and the parties thereafter agreed to meet in a fortnight to finalize an MOU for cooperation.

Present at the meeting from the TCC-CIMET side were Prof Alex Marfo, Dr Maxwell Yeboah, Dr Oliver Konyo, Dr Rhoda Dwabeng, and Madam Agnes Oppong.

The OMA delegation included the Municipal Development Planning Officer, Lawyer Prince Agyemang; Finance Officer, Yahaya Zakaria; Municipal Director of Education, Alfred Benjamin Koomson; Director of the Business Advisory Centre, Thomas Opoku; Physical Planning Officer, Agnes Amoah; Information Officer, Ernest Kofi Offen; and aide to the MCE, Sam.