Obuasi: AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine, has granted scholarships totaling GHS 151,745.93 to 20 students from the Obuasi campus of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). Each student will receive GHS 30,420 over the four-year duration of their studies, covering both tuition and accommodation expenses. In addition to financial support, each beneficiary was provided with a laptop and a bag as part of the scholarship package. These 20 students were selected from a pool of 154 applicants.
According to Ghana News Agency, the scholarship recipients represent the inaugural cohort of the Community Scholarship Scheme. This initiative aims to foster resilient and economically self-sustaining communities within the Obuasi area. It is also designed to promote social mobility, economic empowerment, and improved access to quality education. At the scholarship award ceremony, Mr. Samuel Pobee, Managing Director of AGA, highlighted the company's three-year Social Management Plan (SMP) from 2019 to 2021, which included establishing the Obuasi campus of KNUST as part of a 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP).
Mr. Pobee emphasized that the scholarship scheme is intended not only to support the youth but also to nurture future leaders and change-makers who are well-prepared to address upcoming challenges. The initiative aligns educational opportunities with the demands of the job market by focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET). AGA will closely monitor the academic performance of recipients, with provisions to reallocate scholarships if a student fails to maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Mr. Pobee also highlighted AGA's contributions to education, such as the establishment of a GHS 8.4 million state-of-the-art robotics center at Obuasi Secondary Technical School. Additionally, in partnership with the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation, AGA has distributed educational materials worth GHS 147,000 to 49 primary schools in the Adansi area. He noted that in 2024, AGA inaugurated a modern block for Sanso Methodist Primary and M/A Junior High School to serve the Sanso community and its surroundings.
He encouraged the scholarship recipients to excel in their studies, pursue knowledge passionately, and aspire to become leaders in their fields. He reminded them of the importance of hard work, resilience, and commitment in their educational journey. Prof. Mrs. Rita Akosua Dickson, Vice Chancellor of KNUST, praised AngloGold Ashanti for its steadfast support of the university's mission, emphasizing the partnership's role in cultivating skilled professionals and innovators for the future. Several beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to the company and committed to achieving exceptional academic results.