AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine has commissioned a US$750,000 Smart Systems Centre at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa to help strengthen research, innovation and practical training in mining technology.
The facility, which is powered by solar energy, is expected to support the development of robotics, artificial intelligence and digital technologies for the mining industry while helping to reduce the processing of mining data outside Ghana.
The centre was inaugurated on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at a ceremony attended by officials of UMaT, the Minerals Commission, the Western Regional Coordinating Council, the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly and Gold Fields Ghana Limited.
The Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, Mr Daniel Boadi, said the facility was equipped with high-performance computing infrastructure, robotics units and digital software to provide students and researchers with practical training in machine learning, big data analytics and real-time operational modelling.
He said the centre had the capacity to process complex mining data generated across Ghana, making it possible for more data analysis to be carried out locally to support decision-making within the mining sector.
Mr Boadi said the investment formed part of the company's support for education and skills development.
He said AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine invested GH¢17.2 million, equivalent to more than US$1.57 million, in education and youth development over the past year.
He said 224 students had benefited from the company's Community Scholarship Programme, including 77 studying at UMaT's Tarkwa and Essikado campuses.
He added that 40 young people from host communities had also received full sponsorship to undertake certified technical training at the MacPartners Training Institute in Obuasi, with the company paying for tuition, accommodation, stipends and professional certification.
Speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor of UMaT, Professor Richard Kwasi Amankwah, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Grace Ofori-Sarpong Akuffo, said almost all the equipment at the centre had been assembled and installed locally by Dr Emmanuel Ifa and his team, saving the university thousands of dollars in overseas installation costs.
She said the facility consisted of five specialised units covering robotics and autonomous systems, advanced data systems, digital equipment fabrication, environmental monitoring and smart farming, and power generation and sustainable energy.
Professor Ofori-Sarpong Akuffo said the centre operated entirely on its own solar power system and was independent of the national electricity grid.
She explained that the various units were interconnected to allow secure sharing of information across the facility.
Professor Ofori-Sarpong Akuffo said UMaT had so far trained more than 600 coders and innovators and would continue to support the government's digital skills agenda.
The Western Regional Head of the Minerals Commission, Mr Francis Annobil Jnr, who represented the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Mr Isaac Andrew Turner, and the Chief Inspector of Mines, Mr Joseph Fumphon, described the centre as the first facility of its kind in Ghana established to train local talent in robotics, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things for the mining industry.
He said the Commission believed robotics and artificial intelligence would improve safety in hazardous mining operations, including drilling, haulage and remote monitoring, by reducing the exposure of workers to dangerous environments.
Mr Annobil Jnr said technologies such as remote surveillance, ground stability monitoring, equipment tracking and predictive maintenance would also help improve safety and accountability in the mining sector while supporting efforts to tackle illegal mining.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Tarkwa-Nsuaem said the establishment of the centre complemented President John Dramani Mahama's CODES programme, which is training thousands of young people in coding across the country.
Representing the Western Regional Minister, the Regional Coordinating Director, Mrs Rachel Sarpong, urged managers of the facility to maintain the equipment properly through regular servicing to keep the centre operating efficiently for many years.
She said investments of this nature should be viewed as long-term support for community development and human resource growth.
