Damang: Abosso Goldfields Limited (AGL) has revoked the scholarships for 10 students in its operational area due to their continuous poor performance, as revealed by Mr. Abdul-Razak Yakubu, Executive Secretary of Gold Fields Ghana Foundation (GFGF).
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Yakubu addressed the situation during the Mines stakeholders meeting at the quarterly Community Consultative Committee held in Damang within the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality. He explained that the scholarships were withdrawn after the students failed to improve their academic performance despite receiving warning letters when their grades fell below a second class lower first. The affected students and their parents were engaged, with offers of assistance for academic difficulties, which were not utilized.
Mr. Yakubu emphasized that the decision to terminate the scholarships was necessary to set a precedent that scholarships require consistent high performance. He encouraged current scholarship recipients to maintain a high standard to continue benefiting from the program. He also shared that despite the upcoming transfer of the Damang operation to the state next year, Gold Fields would support current scholarship beneficiaries until their education is completed.
During the meeting, Mr. Yakubu also updated stakeholders on ongoing projects, including the completion of a three-unit classroom block at Bompieso and a major water project in the Damang host community. The water project, costing over $300,000, is a collaboration between GFGF and World Vision Ghana and aims to provide the entire community with access to water by the end of the year.
In recognition of GFGF's contributions, Mr. Timothy Ofori, Municipal Director of Health Services for Prestea Huni-Valley, presented a plaque to the foundation. He acknowledged their significant impact on improving healthcare services in the municipality, expressing the need for continuous recognition and encouragement of their efforts.