AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine has awarded full scholarships to 20 students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Obuasi Campus, as part of its newly launched AGA Obuasi Community Scholarship. Speaking at the launch in Obuasi, the mine’s Managing Director, Ing. Samuel Boakye Pobee, said the initiative forms a critical part of the company’s 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan.

“We began this journey years ago with the establishment of the KNUST Obuasi Campus. The scholarship is another step in our goal to build strong and self-sustaining communities,” Ing. Pobee said. He emphasized that the scholarship is focused on students studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), fields that align closely with the needs of the extractive and broader industrial sectors.

The first edition of the scholarship covers tuition, accommodation, and provides each beneficiary with a laptop, with total support worth GH¢151,745.93 for first-year and continuing students. Ing. Pobee noted that recipients were selected based on merit and potential, rather than charity.

“The scholarship represents trust in your ability to make a difference. I will follow your results closely. If you do well, we will acknowledge it. If not, we will have a conversation,” he told the students, urging them to honour the confidence placed in them and return to support their communities in future.

The Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, praised AngloGold Ashanti for its long-standing collaboration with the university. “Education must be all-inclusive. No one should be left out. This scholarship reflects our shared goals for developing the next generation of leaders, especially in science and technology,” she said. Prof. Dickson noted that the KNUST Obuasi Campus has grown from 346 students at its inception to nearly 3,000 students across various engineering, health, and environmental science programmes.

George Alfred Koomson, Chair of the scholarship selection committee and Obuasi Municipal Education Director, explained that the 20 beneficiaries were chosen through a rigorous review by a 12-member committee representing AngloGold Ashanti, KNUST, Ghana Education Service, local assemblies, the National Youth Authority, and traditional leaders. Candidates were evaluated on academic merit, financial need, and community involvement.

The Obuasi East Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. William Kofi Adzowu, commended the initiative, urging students to maintain high academic standards and contribute to their communities upon graduation. “We want to see you complete your studies and become the professionals you aspire to be. One day, we expect you to replace AGA in supporting others,” he said.

The AGA Obuasi Community Scholarship will be awarded annually, forming part of AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine’s long-term strategy to strengthen community ties, expand educational opportunities, and develop local talent in critical fields.