ABOSO GOLD Fields, Damang Mine, in the Western Region, has awarded scholarships to 75 tertiary students in its host communities to the tune of $240,000.
Each beneficiary would receive GH¢6,000 annually, for the payment of school fees, hostel bills and other academic materials, including laptop computers and textbooks.
The scholarships will cover the entire years of beneficiaries’ tertiary education.
The initiative, which is under the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation (GFGF), focuses primarily on engineering courses including mining engineering, electricals and geology.
The Community Affairs and Stakeholders Engagement Manager, Aboso Gold Fields Damang Mine, Mr. Abdel- Razak Yakubu, who revealed this said, “So far, the GFGF scholarship scheme has supported 747 students to the tune $1.4 million.”
He was speaking at the 2021/2022 GFGF scholarship awards ceremony at Kyekyewere in the Prestea-Huni Valley Municipality.
He explained that, this year, the scholarship selection committee made conscious effort in awarding about 49 per cent of the scholarships to ladies from the host communities.
Mr. Yakubu said Gold Fields Ghana (GFG) believe that the development of the human capital through education and skill development was the most effective tool to overcome poverty in Ghana, particularly in its host communities.
He, however, noted that, it was unfortunate that, a good number of otherwise brilliant youth of these communities were unable to realise their human potential, largely due to the lack of financial support to pursue higher education.
“With the introduction of the government’s free Senior High School (SHS) programme in 2017, the foundation channeled its resources into sponsoring students at the tertiary levels only,” he added.
Mr. Yakubu said a good number of students under the scholarship programme had graduated with excellent results.
He said: “We pride ourselves in mentioning that a good number of past beneficiaries tracked are in gainful employment. Some of these are doctors, nurses, teachers, miners, and bankers.”
The Head of Counselling Unit at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, Mr. Theophilus Andoh-Robertson, advised the beneficiaries to be disciplined and focus on their studies.
“Others are struggling to pay their fees, you have been lucky. So improve your performances and be good and faithful ambassadors,” he told the beneficiaries.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Damang