BY DANIEL BAMPOE
Zijin Golden Ridge Limited (ZGRL) has launched a new long-term youth development initiative aimed at equipping young people in the Birim North District with technical skills and improving their prospects for employment and entrepreneurship.
Known as the Zijin Akyem Rising Initiative (ZARI), the company-led programme was introduced alongside the commencement of its Community Talent and
SkillsDevelopment Programme, with 31 trainees participating in an initial Welding and Fabrication course delivered in collaboration with the Akyem Vocational and Technical Institute (AVTI).
ZGRL said ZARI was developed following feedback gathered through its annual Zijin Employment Clinic, which seeks to bridge the gap between available employment opportunities and job seekers in host communities through career guidance, employability support and job-readiness training.
The Community Talent and Skills Development Programme is one of ZARI’s flagship interventions, with Welding and Fabrication serving as its first trade area.
The company said Electrical Installation is expected to form the second cohort, while Plumbing, Building Construction and Masonry will be introduced as AVTI expands its capacity to deliver additional programmes.
Speaking on the initiative, ZGRL General Manager Agyemang Okyere said the programme was designed to go beyond direct employment by building the technical and professional capacity of young peopeoplel
“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 described the initiative as an investment in the future of ZGRL’s host communities and the next generation of professionals.
Training for the inaugural cohort commenced on October 5, 2026, and will run for 25 days.
The 31 trainees were selected from candidates who had previously completed Welding and Fabrication training at AVTI. The new programme is intended to align their existing technical competencies with ZGRL’s operational standards, procedures and safety requirements.
Participants will receive transportation and lunch on each training day, a full set of personal protective equipment (PPE) and a GH¢1,000 monthly stipend for the duration of the programme.
Where applicable, the training will be aligned with National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) Certificate I standards, with participants assessed based on practical competence, safety awareness and workplace readiness rather than attendance alone.
ZGRL, however, stressed that participation in the programme does not guarantee employment with the company.
The training, it said, is entirely separate from its staffing and recruitment plans, while any future employment opportunities with ZGRL or its business partners will continue to depend on operational requirements and established recruitment procedures.
ZARI adds to a number of youth development programmes already being implemented by ZGRL.
The company’s Apprenticeship Training Programme operates under an Applied Technical Pipeline Approach aimed at developing local technical capacity in mechanical, electrical, and welding and fabrication disciplines.
According to the company, participants in the apprenticeship programme graduate with a Diploma in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, a Certificate of Proficiency in OEM Maintenance Training from the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), and a Zijin Certificate of Completion.
ZGRL also operates a Learnership Programme, which provides young people from host communities with workplace learning, formal mentorship and direct exposure to mining operations.
Mr Okyere described the learnership programme as “our most deliberate investment in the next generation of professionals,” noting its role in preparing young people for future engineering, management and technical careers.
The company said its youth development efforts form part of a broader commitment to increasing local participation in its operations.
Currently, 597 of ZGRL’s 1,235 employees, representing approximately 48 per cent of its workforce, come from host communities. This exceeds the 35 per cent local employment target established under the company’s Employment Agreement with the community.
Since taking ownership of the Akyem Gold Mine in 2025, ZGRL 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.
The company said the introduction of ZARI is expected to strengthen this broader approach by creating additional pathways for young people to acquire practical skills, improve workplace readiness and participate more meaningfully in the local economy.
