A maiden graduation ceremony for the first cohort of trainees of the IWES-UPSA Certificate in Supervisory Management Programme, was held at Siguiri AngloGold Ashanti Guinea (SAG) in Konan, Guinea on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. Fifteen participants who took part in the course, were presented with certificates.
The course forms part of the broader Supervisory Management and Leadership Development Programme (SMLDP) run by the Institute of Work, Employment and Society (IWES) of the University of Professional Studies in Accra (UPSA). It comprised five modules conducted over two meetings, incorporating 72 contact hours, in addition to case study discussions, emphasising the development of soft skills to enhance theoretical competence.
Prof. Samuel Antwi, representing the Vice Chancellor of the UPSA, presented the certificates to the participants. He observed that employee training programmes were being redesigned to offer balanced approaches, combining world-class technical upskilling with essential soft skills development. He commended the leaders at SAG for believing in training and investing in their teams to empower them to meet technical challenges in the modern mining landscape.
“I applaud the management for their unwavering commitment to the training programme designed to nurture you as supervisors. This signifies your dedication to strengthening the skills of your workforce and keeping them abreast of the latest supervisory trends in this dynamically changing industry”.
Dr. Mrs Erika Mamley Osae, Acting Director, of The Institute of Work, Employment and Society (IWES), host of the Programme, extended heartfelt appreciation to SAG management and the hardworking participants for their dedication and active engagement, which made the milestone possible.
“Today’s graduation is particularly significant. It is our first cohort, bringing together participants from different departments to learn, share, and grow as one community of leaders. We believe that the knowledge, skills, and insights you have gained will propel you forward in your professional journeys and strengthen the leadership culture within your organization”.
Mr. Antoine Camara, Learning and Development Superintendent at SAG, commended the graduating team. He observed that people development is the future of the mine, noting that training the team with hands on skills was on the heart of management going forward. Other managers at the event, lent their support to the training of the team and urged them to apply the knowledge to improve their work.
Group photo of some of the participants and their managers and Prof. Samuel Antwi delivering a brief address.
The visit served to accomplish two goals in one trip. Orientation and lectures kicked off the Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership and Organizational Development programme on-site. Superintendents, HoDs, and managers make up the total of 15 students enrolled in the one-year program. A few scenes from the on-site lectures are shown below.
