Obuasi is popular across the globe for its legendary gold mine which was discovered somewhere in the 19th century.
The economy of Obuasi has over the years revolved around the mine fuelling the popular saying ” Obuasi is the Mine; the Mine is Obuasi”. This literally means that the economy of Obuasi cannot survive without the mine.
This was however evidenced when the mine now operated by Anglogold Ashanti laid off close to 6,000 workers in a retrenchment exercise in 2014. Obuasi in sum became a Ghost town.
‘The comeback’ of Anglogold Ashanti since 2019 has brought hope to a lot of people and further boosted the economy of Obuasi. The redevelopment of the Obuasi mine has introduced many new companies including indigenous ones springing up, in anticipation of rendering services to the Mine. Notable among them is Kilon construction limited, a key contractor of Anglogold Ashanti.
Anglogold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine has teemed up with the Obuasi Municipal Assembly to roll out plethora of programmes all targeted at diversifying the economy of Obuasi and wean it off the mine.
It is refreshing to note that a lot of businesses owned by young entrepreneurs have started springing up, all to leverage on the existence of the Mine to create wealth.
Pharmaceutical shops, Media houses, pubs, Engineering Training Organizations, Restaurants and Eateries, etc have all emerged contributing to revamping the economy of Obuasi.
Popular among them are Estel Pharmacy, Lizmok pharmacy, Achievers Pharmacy, Obuase Bitters, Kilon construction limited, just to mention but a few, owned by young entrepreneurs in Obuasi.
Now, these young Obuasi based Entrepreneurs require various forms of support like access to finance and market to expand for their businesses to thrive.
The youth in Obuasi have big ambitions and willing to put in hard work to create a shared prosperous future for themselves, their peers and community. But is Obuasi ready for these young entrepreneurs and their businesses to thrive?
Are the support systems available for them to leverage on, to create enough wealth, provide employment and significantly contribute to the economy?
It is refreshing to note that Obuasi can create thousands of ‘Yaw Fosus’ if only authorities and residents resolve to support these burgeoning entrepreneurs to succeed without putting any impediments on their way.
Let us all put our shoulders to the wheel to help Obuasi develop irrespective of our religious and political differences. Let us all support OBUASI to develop.