From Alfred Adams
The AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine in Tarkwa has presented fully paid scholarships worth GH¢75,000 to forty-two students at the secondary, vocational and tertiary levels for the 2014/2015 academic year.
They comprise of 17 students in second cycle institutions, 6 in vocational training and 19 in tertiary institutions. The package is to enable students in their communities to successfully pursue further studies in various academic disciplines.
In his speech at the presentation ceremony, the Senior Manager Sustainability, Emmanuel Baidoo, urged the beneficiaries to make good use to the opportunity presented them. He stressed that the contribution of higher education is paramount in every society, and added that AngloGold will continue to contribute its quota to development in its host communities.
“For us, at AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, we believe that the youth are the future of our society, and we will continue to encourage them to achieve their potentials and improve human development.” Emmanuel Baidoo reminded the beneficiaries that the education they receive in the various institutions of higher learning will equip them for life.
He reiterated that the Mine will continue to add on to the efforts of the government in education. On her part, the Municipal Director of Education for the Tarkwa Municipal Assembly, Mrs. Veronica Jackson, appealed to parents and guardians to complement the efforts of teachers by observing and developing an interest in their wards’ academic affairs.
She indicated that the mine’s scholarship package to host communities in its operational areas has improved their level of education, especially, at the basic level. Since the inception of the Iduapriem Mine’s Community Scholarship Scheme, 175 students have benefitted.
Currently, 48 are continuing students, in addition to the 42 students who are new beneficiaries. This brings the total number of beneficiaries to 90 for the 2014 / 2015 academic year. Past beneficiaries of the scholarship have graduated from the country’s tertiary and universities, with some undertaking practical attachment at the mine.
The scholarship facility covers full school fees, and a maximum of GH¢1,000 for student’s hostel or hall accommodation for every academic year. The educational scholarship facility to the youth of AngloGold Ashanti Mine’s host community underpins its commitment to making its communities better off.
Apart from the Community Scholarship Scheme, the mine also presented various teaching and learning materials to four basic beneficiary schools in Adieyie, Teberebie, Abompuniso and Wangarakrom/Badukrom. The learning materials form part of the mine’s Basic Education Implementation project, which aims at increasing the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) pass rate by 70%.