Africa-Press – Ghana. AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine has launched a flagship entrepreneurship programme aimed at nurturing innovative business ideas and transforming them into sustainable ventures.
Dubbed the “Obuasi Entrepreneurship and Innovation Challenge”, the initiative is designed to empower young people with viable business concepts, equipping them with the tools and resources to develop thriving enterprises.
The launch formed part of activities marking this year’s International Day for Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME Day), a global observance that highlights the vital role of MSMEs in driving inclusive growth and sustainable development.
Mr. Edmond Oduro-Agyei, Community Relations Manager of AngloGold Ashanti, emphasized the strategic importance of the programme in promoting youth self-sufficiency and economic resilience.
“This morning, we gather not only to celebrate the accomplishments of our MSMEs but also to ignite the inception of a movement that will redefine the economic future of Obuasi,” he stated.
He explained that the Challenge is a key component of AngloGold Ashanti’s 10-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) and builds on the successes of the company’s earlier Business Acceleration and Sustainability Programme (BAST).
Since its inception, the BAST programme has trained over 1,383 MSMEs in core business development skills, including 53 women-led enterprises.
Several of these businesses have since expanded, formalized operations, created jobs, and increased their market presence.
The Obuasi Entrepreneurship and Innovation Challenge is being implemented in partnership with Absa Bank Ghana Ltd., the Obuasi campus of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA).
Tailored to support youth-led, scalable business ideas, the initiative will provide mentorship, technical training, and potential access to funding, ultimately aiming to stimulate job creation and inclusive economic growth across the Obuasi Municipality.
Mr. Thomas Opoku, the Obuasi Municipal Director of the Ghana Enterprises Agency, lauded the initiative’s potential to drive long-term impact.
He said his outfit was of the firm conviction that the challenge would reduce the community’s dependency on AngloGold Ashanti by promoting entrepreneurial independence.
The programme is expected to identify and accelerate high-potential ventures that align with Obuasi’s socio-economic development goals.
Several participants at the launch expressed their appreciation to AngloGold Ashanti for its continued investment in youth empowerment and community development.
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