Goldfields Ghana Foundation presents cheques to 325 beneficiaries under scholarship scheme – Skyy Power FM

Goldfields Ghana Ltd through its Goldfields Ghana Foundation as part of its corporate social responsibility today presented cheques to 325 beneficiaries under its scholarship scheme.

In 2002 the company started a scholarship scheme which in 2004 was formalized under the Goldfields Foundation. The scheme was to help brilliant but needy students from the company’s host communities to pursue full-time studies at various levels of education.

Speaking during the Presentation Ceremony, the Vice President (Operations) of Goldfields, Mr Michiel Van Der Merwe said promoting and enhancing human capital, education and skill development are vital to the societal development of the country, particularly in the communities that host their mining operations.

He said this year, the Foundation has decided to introduce a creative measure which is, the bulk payment of academic and facility fees on behalf of the 325 beneficiaries. This, he said has helped to eliminate delays sometimes associated with receiving bills directly from students.

He was also happy that the Minister of Education, Dr Osei Yaw Adutwum was engaging stakeholders on the issue of the increase in tertiary fees.

The MP for Prestea Huni- Valley, Hon. Wisdom Cudjoe said with the introduction of the scholarship scheme a huge burden has been lifted off parents, nananom and politicians.

He lamented all the fees he has had to pay for people in his capacity as MP and commended Goldfields Ghana and other corporate entities for taking good care of human capital because according to him, it will in turn take care of the other resources which are, labour and land.

He added that it’s the beneficiaries who will come back to take care of the other resources in the country.

Some of the beneficiaries also expressed their gratitude to the company for the support they have received.

Since 2002, Goldfields Ghana Ltd has invested $56 million in providing access to quality education in their host communities. The amount has gone into the provision of infrastructure, and teacher motivation among others.

In all 2448 youths from Tarkwa and Damang host communities have benefited from the scheme with 531 beneficiaries currently in tertiary institutions all over Ghana.

Source: Rosaline Djan