The Senior Manager Sustainability at AngloGold Ashanti, Emmanuel Baidoo, has said that the company has put in place measures to build the capacity of local contractors to be better placed to win contracts in the company.
He said so far, the strategy has seen more of the local contractors getting contracts with the mine which has translated in getting more of the youth employed especially in the construction sector.
Mr. Baidoo was speaking to the media at the end of a tour of ongoing projects undertaken by AngloGold Ashanti as part of their 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP).
Mr Baidoo, who was in the company of officials from AngloGold Ashanti, engineers from the Obuasi Municipal and the Obuasi East District Assemblies, community members, visited the 9-unit classroom block at Sanso, the Obuasi Police Headquarters site and the Obuasi East Examination printing center.
He expressed excitement over the quality of work done and said it lends credence to the fact that if the local contractors are adequately empowered, they can deliver.
“AngloGold Ashanti is deliberate in our quest to empower local contractors and businesses and the work done by these contractors so far is an indication that given the opportunity the local contractors can deliver on a good commitment,” Mr. Baidoo stressed.
He said key to the three pillars of the 10-year SEDP of the Obuasi Mine was contributing to diversifying and sustaining the local economy.
This he said included a deliberate intervention like training businesses and helping them acquired the right certification to make them competitive.
Mr. Baidoo added once the local contractors are given contracts by the Mine through competitive bidding, they are impressed upon by AGA to recruit workers from Obuasi.
9-unit classroom block at Sanso
The Project Manager for Kilon Design and Build Constructions, Michael Adusei, who spoke to newsmen, said work done so far was 93% stressing that the project will be handed over to AngloGold Ashanti on 9th November, 2023.
He revealed that the only outstanding work which is paving the frontage of the 2-storey block has began in earnest.
The GH¢5 million educational edifice which is the first of its kind in the Obuasi Municipality comprises teachers office, a headteacher’s office, a sickbay, a kitchen, a library (book and e-library), a computer lab stocked with computers and a well-designed compound with a water fountain.
A youth representative of the Sanso community, Christian Nsowah, lauded AngloGold Ashanti for the project.
He said the community has shown their appreciation for the project by providing the needed security for the contractors throughout the construction period.
The District Police Headquarters
The New District Police Headquarters is almost complete and will be handed over in two weeks’ time. This according to the Project Manager of Kenzad Construction Limited Robert Woode who briefed officials on the tour.
He revealed that so far 25 members of the Bidiem community where the project has been sited has so far been employed during the construction period.
The new police station has the District Commander’s office, charge office, waiting area, four offices, washrooms, kitchenette, conference room, cells (male, female, juvenile), furnishings, borehole with Polytank stand.
The Examination Printing Center
The Managing Director of Bachor Constructions Limited, Jonas Davoro, said the project which was handed over to them three weeks ago was progressing at a faster rate with work 21% work done.
He said the project was within scheduled and will be completed in the next three months. He explained that it consists of a storage area, office, production and printing area, as well as a borehole.