News · Candida Dery

ZiJin launches skills training programme for youth in Birim North

ZiJin Golden Ridge Limited (ZGRL) has reaffirmed its commitment to youth development in its host communities in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region.

The company has launched the ZiJin Akyem Rising Initiative (ZARI), a long-term platform aimed at equipping young people with technical and employability skills.

The initiative has begun with the Community Talent and Skills Development Programme, with 31 trainees undergoing training in Welding and Fabrication in collaboration with the Akyem Vocational and Technical Institute (AVTI).

General Manager of ZGRL, Agyemang Okyere, said the programme is designed to help young people strengthen their technical capabilities, improve workplace readiness and create pathways towards careers and entrepreneurship.

He said Welding and Fabrication is the first trade area under the initiative, with Electrical Installation expected to form the second cohort. Plumbing, Building Construction and Masonry are also expected to be introduced as AVTI expands its training capacity.

According to Mr Okyere, ZARI was developed based on feedback from the company's annual Zijin Employment Clinic, which provides career guidance, employability support and job-readiness training to community members.

Training for the first cohort began on October 5, 2026, and will run for 25 days. Participants will receive transportation and lunch each training day, personal protective equipment and a monthly stipend of GH¢1,000 for the duration of the programme.

According to the company, the training is aligned, where applicable, with National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) Certificate I standards, with participants assessed based on practical competence, safety awareness and workplace readiness.

The company also clarified that the programme is not a recruitment or staffing initiative, adding that any future employment opportunities will depend on operational requirements and be filled through the company's established recruitment processes.

Mr Okyere said the initiative complements ZGRL's existing youth development programmes, including its Apprenticeship Training and Learnership programmes, which are aimed at developing a skilled local workforce.

ZGRL says 597 of its 1,235 employees, representing about 48 percent of its workforce, are from its host communities. The company also says it has recruited 222 people from host communities since taking ownership of the Akyem Gold Mine in 2025.