Thirty-one students from communities in the Amansie West and Amansie South districts of the Ashanti Region have received financial support under the Asanko Scholarship Programme to help them pursue tertiary education.
The initiative, currently in its second year, continues to provide educational assistance to students enrolled in various tertiary institutions across Ghana. This year, 15 newly selected students joined the programme, while 16 students from the first cohort remain on scholarship support.
Each beneficiary is entitled to funding of up to GH¢10,000 to cover tuition, accommodation, and other approved academic expenses.
The scholarship programme forms part of Asanko Gold Ghana’s five-year Social and Economic Development Plan (SEDEP), which seeks to promote education and foster long-term development within the company’s host communities.
Beneficiaries were selected through a collaborative process involving the District Education Directorates, traditional authorities, District Assemblies, and Asanko Gold Ghana. Organisers say the approach was designed to ensure fairness and broad representation across the beneficiary communities.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Social Responsibility Manager of Asanko Gold Ghana, Isaac Kwakye, said the initiative aims to remove financial obstacles that often prevent talented students from pursuing higher education.
“Through this initiative, we hope to ease the financial burden that can sometimes stand in the way of talented and hardworking young people pursuing tertiary education,” he stated.
Mr Kwakye reaffirmed the company’s commitment to investing in human capital development, describing education as a critical tool for driving growth and transformation in local communities.
The Amansie West District Chief Executive, Prince Manu Morrison, encouraged beneficiaries to remain focused on their studies and make the most of the opportunity provided to them.
He urged the students to work hard and justify the investment made in their education, noting that their success could inspire and create opportunities for future beneficiaries.
One of the beneficiaries, Millicent Frimpong, a Doctor of Pharmacy student at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), shared how financial challenges nearly forced her to abandon her academic ambitions.
According to her, her family relied heavily on loans and personal sacrifices to support her education before she was awarded the scholarship.
The Asanko Scholarship Programme is expected to continue expanding access to tertiary education for students in mining host communities while contributing to the long-term socio-economic development of the area.