The Newmont Akyem Development Foundation (NAKDeF) has cut the sod for work to commence on the Akyem Technical and Vocational Training Institute (AVTI) for a resettlement community estimated to cost GHC2.5 million.
The project, designed to have six departments with 18 to 20 trade areas, has already been awarded to five local contractors and is expected to be completed within six months.
The departments would include Fashion, Cosmetology, Building, Electrical and Construction, Agriculture/Agribusiness, Home Management and Proposed Mining and Allied Sciences.
At a ceremony announcing the project, Mr Paul Apenu, the Executive Secretary for NAKDeF, said the Foundation was collaborating with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to establish the institute.
It is envisaged that it would offer competency-based vocational and technical skills to youth of the community in the short to medium term.
On the partnership agreement with GIZ, Mr Apenu indicated that they had also implemented a programme dubbed: Akyem Skills, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development (A-SEED).
The Programme seeks to create employable skills and employment opportunities, primarily for the youth and members of Newmont Goldcorp Akyem Mine communities through the A-SEED Programme.
There are three components of the programme: Pempamsie Cooperative Credit Union, Akyem Vocational and Technical Institute (AVTI), and a Soap Processing Factory.
The construction of the AVTI brings to two the components that had been accomplished, Mr Apenu said, adding that they were looking forward to ensuring the third component; the Soap Processing Factory, was also accomplished.
He commended Newmont Goldcorp Akyem Mines for creating the Foundation and ensuring communities in their catchment areas had their share of development projects.
A Representative of the GIZ, Mrs Grace Otu-Tei, said they would continue to collaborate with NAKDeF to provide support to the youth.
She urged the youth to take technical and vocational education seriously to help create employment for themselves and others.
GIZ has donated two new buses to be used by the Institute when completed.
The Chief of Abirem, Obrempong Kwesi Amoh Kyeretwie I, expressed gratitude to the Foundation and GIZ for the gesture and entreated the contractors to do diligent work.
He assured financiers of the project the traditional authorities’ preparedness to make lands available for future expansion of the institute.
