Students from communities within the Amansie West and Amansie South districts have received scholarship support through the Asanko Scholarship Programme, providing financial assistance to help them continue their tertiary education.
The initiative, now in its second year, is supporting 31 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 funding support as they progress in their studies.
The scholarship package covers tuition, accommodation, and other approved academic expenses, with each student 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 across its host communities.
For many beneficiaries and their families, the support comes at a critical time.
One beneficiary, Millicent Frimpong from Manso Fahiakobo, who is pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at KNUST, said financial challenges nearly stalled her educational journey, with her family relying on loans and personal sacrifices to support her studies.
“I had to work after school to gather some money for my tuition because it was huge. My parents tried their best to get money for me. It was a tough one,” she said.
After completing senior high school in 2024, Millicent’s relatives resorted to a loan facility to settle the high academic fees to enable her pursue her dream of becoming a pharmacist.
“It took two years before Millicent entered university because funds for her schooling weren’t available. It wasn’t easy. We took loans for her first years at school,” her sister, Felicity Frimpong, said.
Speaking on behalf of the General Manager of the mine, Social Responsibility Manager Dr. Isaac Kwakye said the initiative seeks to remove financial barriers that prevent young people with big dreams 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.
Beneficiaries are selected through a collaborative process involving District Education Directorates, traditional leaders, District Assemblies, and Asanko to ensure fairness and representation across host communities.
Amansie West District Chief Executive, Prince Manu Morrison, also encouraged students to remain committed to education, noting its importance in creating opportunities and supporting long-term community development.
This year’s ceremony highlighted the programme’s continued support for students already progressing in their academic journey while opening opportunities for a new group of beneficiaries.
