Zijin Golden Ridge Limited (ZGRL) has introduced a new youth development and skills training initiative in the Birim North District of Ghana. The initiative, known as the Zijin Akyem Rising Initiative (ZARI), aims to equip young people in its host communities with technical and vocational skills. This program is part of ZGRL's efforts to bridge the gap between available jobs and community job seekers.
The initiative commenced with 31 trainees enrolled in a Welding and Fabrication course, which is being delivered in collaboration with the Akyem Vocational and Technical Institute (AVTI). The training is designed to strengthen the participants' technical skills, workplace readiness, and prospects for long-term employment or entrepreneurship. ZGRL plans to introduce additional trade areas, including Electrical Installation, Plumbing, Building Construction, and Masonry.
According to Agyemang Okyere, General Manager of ZGRL, the initiative was developed from feedback gathered through the company's annual Zijin Employment Clinic. The clinic seeks to bridge the gap between available jobs and community job seekers through career guidance and employability support. Okyere stated that the company's vision is to create opportunities that extend beyond direct employment.
The inaugural trainees were selected from candidates who had previously completed Welding and Fabrication training at AVTI. Their 25-day training program 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.
ZGRL emphasized that the training is separate from its staffing or recruitment plans, and any future employment opportunities with the company or its business partners would depend on operational requirements and established recruitment procedures. The program is also aligned with National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) Certificate I standards, with participants assessed based on practical competence, safety awareness, and workplace readiness.
ZARI is part of a wider range of youth development programs operated by ZGRL, including its Apprenticeship Training Programme and Learnership Programme. The company has made significant efforts to recruit and employ people from host communities, with 597 of its 1,235 employees currently from these communities, representing about 48 percent of its workforce.
Since taking ownership of the Akyem Gold Mine in 2025, ZGRL 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 exceeded its 35 percent local employment target established under its Employment Agreement with the community.
Key points
- Zijin Golden Ridge Limited launches youth skills training initiative for 31 trainees in Akyem, Ghana.
- The initiative aims to equip young people with technical and vocational skills, with Welding and Fabrication as the first trade area.
- The program is part of ZGRL's efforts to bridge the gap between available jobs and community job seekers.
