Asanko Scholarship Programme supports 31 tertiary students in Ashanti communities
Thirty-one students from communities within the Amansie West and Amansie South districts of the Ashanti Region have received scholarship support under the Asanko Scholarship Programme to enable them to continue their tertiary education.
The initiative, now in its second year, is currently supporting students enrolled in various tertiary institutions across the country.
Fifteen newly selected students joined the programme this year, while 16 beneficiaries from the first cohort continue to receive financial support to pursue their academic programmes.
The scholarship package covers tuition, accommodation and other approved academic expenses, with each beneficiary receiving support of up to GH¢10,000.
The initiative forms part of Asanko Gold Ghana’s five-year Social and Economic Development Plan (SEDEP), which focuses on education and long-term community development within its host communities.
Beneficiaries were selected through a collaborative process involving District Education Directorates, traditional authorities, District Assemblies and Asanko Gold Ghana to ensure fairness and broad representation across the beneficiary communities.
This year’s presentation ceremony highlighted the programme’s continued support for students already progressing through their academic journey, while also creating opportunities for a new group of beneficiaries.
Speaking on behalf of the General Manager of the mine, the Social Responsibility Manager, Isaac Kwakye, said the initiative was intended to remove financial barriers that prevented many talented young people from pursuing tertiary 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 said.
Dr Kwakye reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting the development of human capital within the area to help drive growth and development in the beneficiary communities.
For his part, the Amansie West District Chief Executive, Prince Manu Morrison, urged the students to remain focused on their education, stressing its importance in creating opportunities and promoting long-term community transformation.
He advised the beneficiaries to justify the investment made in them by working hard academically.
“Your success will pave the way for others to also benefit,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Millicent Frimpong, who is pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, said financial difficulties had nearly disrupted her education.
According to her, her family had relied heavily on loans and personal sacrifices to support her studies before she was selected for the scholarship programme.
The Asanko Scholarship Programme is expected to continue playing a key role in improving access to higher education for students in mining host communities while contributing to the long-term socio-economic development of the area.
