By Juliet Aguiar DUBARTEY, Tarkwa
Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, has presented scholarship to 125 youths for the 2003/2004 academic year to pursue their education at the various tertiary institutions across the country.
54% of the selected beneficiaries are females, with the remaining 46% being male. Notably, this year’s distribution of beneficiaries reveals that 65% are pursuing engineering programmes, 25% are enrolled in other science related programmes such as Information Technology, Environmental Sciences, Nursing, Midwifery, Medicine, Pharmacy among others with the remaining 10% pursuing humanities and business-related programmes.
A budget of approximately US$88,212.52 has been allocated to cater for the payment of school, accommodation/hostel fees and other approved academic materials for the beneficiaries.
Mr. Robert Siaw, Regional Manager Community Relations Gold Fields Ghana explained that for 20 years, a total of 2,736 youths from Gold Fields’ host communities have been granted scholarship to Senior High Schools and Tertiary Institutions in the country.
Currently, he said there are 498 beneficiaries who are still in school.
The Foundation, according to him has over the past two decades, made substantial investments in various sectors such as Education, Water and Sanitation, Health, Agriculture, and Infrastructure.
“These endeavours aim to foster sustainable socio-economic development within the host communities of the Tarkwa and Damang Mines. This year, the Foundation’s total investment in these communities exceeded $100 million” he added.
Mr. Siaw stated that a significant portion, approximately US$36 million has been spent on education and training programmes. These programmes include the Graduate Training Programme, Host Community Apprenticeship Programme, Mine Apprenticeship Training. Heavy-Duty Equipment Programme, and Precision Welding Training Programme.
“Additionally, the Foundation in partnership with the Canadian Organization for Development through Education (CODE) aim to enhance reading and comprehension skills in 37 public schools within the Tarkwa and Damang mine catchment area, targeting students from grades P1 through P6” he said.
He stated that with the growing interest in Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Foundation is piloting a smart laboratory project in one of its host communities.
“Teachers, have been trained in robotics and on the use of Al. The 54- capacity lab will serve students from Primary four through JHS 3 in three different schools” he pointed out.
Abdel Razak Yakubu, Executive Secretary of Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, advised the beneficiaries to be disciplined, serious with their studies, stressing that “we will request for your end of semester examination results for us to pay your school and accommodation fees”.
“We will be visiting you at your various campuses for us to know the progress you are making in your academic work”, he said,
Nana Dr. Adarkwa Bediako, Scholarship Committee Chairman commended Gold Fields Ghana Foundation for their continued support especially on education.
He called on the management of the Foundation to consider awarding scholarship to the youth in the operational area, ready to pursue Masters Programme.
Representatives from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Cape Coast (UCC), University of Ghana (Legon), the Takoradi Technical University (TTU), the Nursing and Midwifery Institutions among others praised Gold Fields Ghana Foundation for this initiative and encouraged the students to take the studies seriously, make good grades so others will emulate them.
