Accra: Forty students from the Ashanti Region have recently been awarded scholarships by the AngloGold – Obuasi Community Trust Fund. These students hail from four districts: Obuasi Municipal, Obuasi East, Amansie Central, and Adansi North. In total, the Trust Fund has disbursed GHS320,000.00 to support the educational endeavors of these students, raising the number of beneficiaries from the Tertiary Education Grant Scheme to 160 since the 2019/2020 academic year.
According to Ghana News Agency , a Director of the Fund, during a ceremony where the scholarships were presented, the recipients were chosen not only for their academic prowess but also for their unwavering commitment to their communities and a zeal for learning. Mr. Adansi-Bonah emphasized that these 40 students exemplified tremendous dedication and the potential for academic success, even those hailing from underprivileged backgrounds. Furthermore, Mr. Adansi-Bonah, who concurrently serves as the Chief Executive for the Obuasi Municipal Assembly, highlighted that the central aim of the fund is to uplift the people of Obuasi by investing in education and human capital development to diversify the region’s economy.
Addressing the symbiotic relationship, he articulated the need for heightened cooperation between AngloGold Ashanti and the Obuasi populace. He emphasized that for the Fund to prosper, AngloGold Ashanti must be provided with a favorable operational environment. He also disclosed an upcoming collaboration between the City of Essen in Germany’s North Rhine Westphalia Region and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST-Obuasi campus). This partnership will foster an exchange program enabling students from both universities to gain comprehensive insights and experiences in their respective fields of study across both nations.
Speaking on behalf of AngloGold Ashanti, Mr. Yaw Biritwum Opoku, the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist of AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine, highlighted that the Trust Fund’s Tertiary Education Grant has facilitated numerous deserving students from Obuasi communities to embark on their tertiary academic pursuits. Mr. Opoku stated that this initiative has substantially increased access to higher education while also reducing the dropout rates transitioning from senior high school to tertiary institutions in the AngloGold Ashanti host communities. He further encouraged the beneficiaries to harness the advantages provided by the grant, aiming to contribute positively and shape a legacy marked by excellence and resilience.
Nana Barimansu Antwi Kwanin II, Fomena Benkumhene, representing Adansihene, lauded the AngloGold Ashanti- Obuasi Trust Fund’s commitment to youth empowerment in Obuasi through their Educational Grant Scheme. In closing, he recommended that the Fund’s management implement a system to continuously monitor the academic trajectory and behavior of beneficiaries to ensure the scholarship program’s longevity and success.