Gold Fields Ghana Limited has held a special ceremony to award seven hundred and seventy-nine thousand Ghana cedis (GH¢779,000) worth of scholarships to students of four (4) public universities in Ghana. Among the beneficiaries are students of the University of Mines and Technology who received a total of two hundred and eighty-three thousand seven hundred and twenty-four Cedis (GH¢283,724.97) as scholarships for the 2022/2023 academic year.
Professor Anthony Simons, the Pro Vice Chancellor of the University, who spoke on behalf of all beneficiary universities, expressed gratitude to the local chiefs and officials of Gold Fields Ghana for their ingenious support of education in the locality. He said that the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation Scholarship Programme provides tremendous help to many students in Ghana. He commended Gold Fields Ghana for their commitment to promoting a holistic tertiary education to students and preparing human capital for industries nationwide.
Professor Simons said that Universities understand the importance of scholarships to beneficiaries, most especially to brilliant but needy students who are given the chance at education and work. He stated that scholarship awards motivate students to improve their academic performance and appealed to the Gold Fields Foundation to open up its support to include brilliant but needy students. Professor Simons also thanked Gold Fields Ghana on behalf of all the beneficiary universities and advised the students to make good use of the opportunity given to them and make the Gold Fields Foundation proud.
During the presentation, the Vice President in charge of operations at Gold Fields West Africa, Mr Michael Van Der Merwe, said that the company’s quest to provide and support quality education for its host communities has through its scholarship scheme supported over two thousand four hundred and forty-eight (2,448) youth.
He emphasized Gold Fields’ commitment to promoting and enhancing human capital through education and skills development for the sustainable development of its host communities.
Mr Merwe also acknowledged some past beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme who distinguished themselves in their programme of study. Among them are Mr. Louis Ziemah and Miss Beatrice Brown, who graduated from the University of Mines and Technology with First Class Honours in BSc Minerals Engineering and Electrical Engineering respectively.
Witnessing the ceremony, the Deputy Minister of Education and Member of Parliament for the Assin South Constituency, Hon. Reverend John Ntim Fordjour commended Gold Fields Ghana for its financial interventions which support the training of Ghana's future labour force. He said that the Ministry of Education appreciates the partnership they have with Gold Fields Ghana.
The ceremony which took place at the Gold Fields Ghana Ltd Tarkwa on 5th January, 2023 received participation from Chiefs of the host communities, the Member of Parliament for the Prestea Huni Valley Constituency, Honorable Robert Wisdom Cudjoe, the Municipal Chief Executive of the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality, Mr Benjamin Kesse, officials of Gold Fields Ghana Company Ltd as well as representatives and students of other universities and the beneficiary students.
