Akufo-Addo cuts sod for ultra-modern MIIF Technical Training and Jewelry Centre at UMaT

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo has cut sod for the construction of a world-class Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) Technical Training and Jewelry Centre at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa.

The training centre, funded by MIIF, is part of a partnership agreement with the University of Mines and Technology executed at the offices of MIIF on 16th August 2023.

The partnership agreement covers four principal areas: the construction of a world-class Technical Training Centre, which will also accommodate a modern Gold Jewelry Making and Training Center; an undergraduate and postgraduate scholarship program for women from mining communities for ten years; and an annual speaker series program—a thought leadership event bridging academia and industry.

The centre, to be completed within eight months, will feature a 500-seater auditorium, lecture halls, a library, and offices to support practical programs in metalsmithing, jewel technology, and hallmarking jewelry to international standards, while exploring artificial intelligence and smart systems in mineral value addition.

Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony, President Akuffo Addo noted that the establishment of the Technical Training centre underscores the government's commitment to developing a robust and sustainable mining industry.

“This centre will serve as a hub for excellence in mining-related education, research, and innovation, equipping our youth with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in this critical sector,” he said.

The President stated that through the construction of this centre, it is expected that a new breed of jewelers will be trained, imbued with the requisite training to become proficient jewelers who will also be trained in how to build businesses and the necessary skills to turn Ghana into a jewelry hub for Africa.

The President is confident that this technical training center will not only benefit the students and faculty of UMaT but will also contribute to the advancement of the mining industry as a whole.

“It will provide cutting-edge training and research facilities enabling the country to stay at the forefront of technological innovations and best practices in mining and mineral processing,” he added.

The MP for Tarkwa Nsuaem and the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, commended MIIF for the partnership with UMaT, which is going to elevate the university to greater heights, adding that the human resource contribution of the university to the mining industry cannot be underestimated.

He said, “The African mining industry can boast of seasoned professionals who are manning the affairs of both operational and policy handles, who were trained by the university.”

He believes the construction of the center will further propel UMaT to a center of global excellence for training world-class professionals in the downstream aspect of mining and allied industries, adding that “It will further provide the necessary human resources to match the rapid development of Ghana’s mining industry and the anticipated growth.”

Expressing his appreciation to MIIF for sponsoring the training center, the Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah, said the technical training center, when completed and operational, will assist the University in training the country’s youth and equipping them with the required technical competencies for the mining industry.