AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) Obuasi Mine has inaugurated a GHS 2.86 million piggery production centre in Sanso, Obuasi Municipality. This new facility aims to foster sustainable livelihoods and diversify the local economy beyond mining.
The centre was developed as part of the company's 10-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP). It includes 20 modern pig pens, office and storage facilities, foundation breeding stock, and a fully solar-powered energy system. The total investment comprised roughly GHS 1.49 million for construction and GHS 1.37 million for furnishing, breeding stock, veterinary services, capacity-building, and six months of feed support.
This investment aligns with broader efforts to create economic resilience in mining communities by supporting non-mining sectors. Ghana's economy, while benefiting from mineral resources, faces the challenge of ensuring long-term prosperity for communities dependent on finite resources. Diversifying local economies through agricultural projects like this piggery centre reduces reliance on a single industry. This initiative mirrors a national strategy to bolster rural economies and create alternative income streams.
Mr. Edmund Oduro Agyei, Director of Sustainability Management at AGA Obuasi Mine, stated the investment shows the company's commitment to creating lasting value. He explained that AGA believes in investing in sectors that generate sustainable livelihoods and strengthen local economies. This project follows a successful pilot phase of the Piggery and Aquaculture Programme, launched in 2025. In the pilot, nine beneficiary farmers increased their combined pig population from 173 to 428 animals, showing 171 per cent growth.
The management of the centre has been handed over to the Obuasi Municipal Co-operative Pig Farmers and Marketing Society Limited, Sanso. Members of this group have received comprehensive training in modern pig production, animal health management, record-keeping, and cooperative governance. This training empowers local communities to manage and benefit directly from the facility. The Chief Executive of the Obuasi Municipal Assembly, Ms. Faustilove Appiah Kanin, urged beneficiaries to manage the facility responsibly for its long-term success.
The new piggery centre is part of a larger agricultural development agenda under AGA’s SEDP. This agenda also includes the Climate Resilience Oil Palm Plantation Programme (CROPP) and support for Farmers’ Day celebrations. These initiatives together aim to strengthen the agricultural sector in the Obuasi Municipality. The success of such projects will be crucial in demonstrating effective collaboration between private companies and local communities. Future monitoring will assess the long-term economic impact and sustained growth in beneficiary incomes.