The 17 males and 26 females squad comprised six welders, four auto electricians, seven auto mechanics, three sprayers, 20 dressmakers and three hair dressers.

They received certificates and various work tools.

Meanwhile, at the ceremony, 30 youth from host communities of both Tarkwa and Damang Mines, were also enrolled   into a mine apprenticeship programme on welding and fabrication.

Vice President and Head, Sustainable Development Gold Fields West Africa, Dr Celestina Allotey, was happy that 60 per cent of the apprentices were females, and that, seven who got pregnant, continued with training after giving birth.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), she mentioned, highlighted the importance of technical and vocational training to development.

“SDGs 4, 5 and 8 ensure inclusive equitable education and promoted lifelong learning opportunities for all, also spoke about achieving gender equality add empowering women and girls, promotion of   sustainable economic growth, full productive employment and decent work for all,” Dr Allotey added.

She reported that, before the apprenticeship started, community leaders and trade associations met for their views and supports to be solicited, and that, to ensure effectiveness of the training, supervisors constantly monitored and assessed the performances of apprentices throughout the period.

She stated that a four-day entrepreneurship training programme was also organised to equip the beneficiaries with the skills and business management knowledge to enable them run their businesses successfully, after graduation.

Chief Executive Officer of Design and Technology Institute (DTI), Ms Constance Swaniker, spoke to the graduands about discipline, attitude, quality, standards, integrity and professionalism in the world of work, today.

She explained that the youth needed these qualities to become relevant in the industry and economy.

Ms Swaniker, also the guest speaker, stressed that applying professionalism and the quality was one surest way of getting good assurances from customers for their businesses.

“Attitude is also about how you think. Sixty per cent of your success will be determined by your attitude, so you ask yourself what will successes look like, it’s  about having a disciplined  mindset, a master craftsman gets a job, the chair, four legs, three will be standing, one is wobbling,” she said.

She believed that maintaining good standards, quality and professionalism was what could reduce influx of expatriates into the local economy, adding that Ghana needs to export standards and professionals.

On the mining apprenticeship, Engineering Training Coordinator, Emmanuel Lord Yamoah, said it combined classroom work and field evaluation which would be certified by the National Accreditation Board.

“This programme is ‘fit-for-the-purpose’, it’s competence based, and, if industry is looking for fabricators nationwide, they should come from Gold Fields,” he said.