Zijin Golden Ridge Limited (ZGRL) has launched a new youth development and skills training initiative in the Birim North District aimed at equipping young people in its host communities with technical and vocational skills.
The initiative, known as the Zijin Akyem Rising Initiative (ZARI), was introduced alongside the commencement of the Community Talent and Skills Development Programme, with 31 trainees enrolled in a Welding and Fabrication course.
The training is being delivered in collaboration with the Akyem Vocational and Technical Institute (AVTI) and is designed to strengthen the participants’ technical skills, workplace readiness and prospects for long-term employment or entrepreneurship.
According to ZGRL, Welding and Fabrication is the first trade area under the programme, with Electrical Installation expected to form the second cohort. Plumbing, Building Construction and Masonry will also be introduced as AVTI expands its capacity.
General Manager of ZGRL, Agyemang Okyere, said the initiative was developed from feedback gathered through the company’s annual Zijin Employment Clinic, which seeks to bridge the gap between available jobs and community job seekers through career guidance and employability support.
“Our vision is to create opportunities that extend beyond direct employment. Through ZARI, we are helping young people strengthen their technical capabilities, improve workplace readiness, and develop the confidence to pursue careers, entrepreneurship, and long-term economic participation,” he said.
The inaugural trainees were selected from candidates who had previously completed Welding and Fabrication training at AVTI. Their 25-day training programme began on October 5, 2026, and focuses on aligning their existing skills with ZGRL’s operational standards, procedures and safety requirements.
Each trainee will receive transportation and lunch on training days, a full set of personal protective equipment and a monthly stipend of GH¢1,000 for the duration of the programme.
ZGRL said the training is separate from its staffing or recruitment plans, stressing that any future employment opportunities with the company or its business partners would depend on operational requirements and established recruitment procedures.
The programme is also aligned, where applicable, with National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) Certificate I standards, with participants assessed based on practical competence, safety awareness and workplace readiness.
ZARI forms part of a wider range of youth development programmes operated by ZGRL, including its Apprenticeship Training Programme, which focuses on developing local technical skills in mechanical, electrical, and welding and fabrication disciplines.
The company also runs a Learnership Programme that provides young people from host communities with workplace learning, mentorship and exposure to mining operations.
ZGRL said 597 of its 1,235 employees, representing about 48 percent of its workforce, are currently from host communities. This exceeds the 35 percent local employment target established under its Employment Agreement with the community.
Since taking ownership of the Akyem Gold Mine in 2025, the company said it has recruited 222 people from host communities, compared with 120 recruited by the mine’s previous operator during the two years before the transition.
READ ALSO:
REDD+ initiative equips three Ahafo SHSs with computers to boost ICT education
La Traditional Council opposes redevelopment of La Pleasure Beach without consultation
