Thirty-one students from the Amansie West and Amansie South districts in the Ashanti Region are currently breathing a sigh of relief. They’ve been selected as beneficiaries of the Asanko Scholarship Programme, an initiative designed to prop up brilliant young minds who otherwise might have been forced to abandon their studies due to a lack of cash. The scheme covers school fees, accommodation, and other necessary academic costs for those enrolled in tertiary institutions across the country.

This year marks the second run of the initiative, with 15 fresh faces joining 16 students from the original group who are still getting support. Each scholar is entitled to a maximum payout of GH₵10,000. It’s part of a broader five-year Social and Economic Development Plan pushed by Asanko Gold Ghana, which aims to balance the company's mining activities with long-term upliftment for the people living right on their doorstep.

For students like Millicent Frimpong, who hails from Manso Fahiakobo, this isn't just about extra pocket money. She is currently fighting to become a Doctor of Pharmacy at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). Before the scholarship, her path was filled with hurdles.

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.

Millicent spent two years idling at home after Senior High School simply because her family couldn't afford the entry costs for university. Her sister, Felicity Frimpong, admitted that the family had to scramble and take on loans just to get Millicent through her first year on campus. Without this intervention, she might still be waiting for a breakthrough that never came.

Isaac Kwakye, the Social Responsibility Manager at the mine, explained that the goal is simple: stop talent from going to waste. Speaking on behalf of the General Manager, he noted that they wanted to remove the financial walls that talented students constantly hit. The selection process is designed to be communal rather than arbitrary. It involves input from the District Education Directorates, local traditional leaders, and the District Assemblies to ensure the money reaches those who really need it most across the host communities.

Prince Manu Morrison, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Amansie West, was present to offer some encouragement to the beneficiaries. He pointed out that education remains the most reliable engine for driving community development. In an area where the landscape is often defined by mining pits, focusing on the classroom is a deliberate strategy to ensure the next generation has options beyond the earth.

Attending a public university in Ghana like KNUST carries heavy costs that many rural families struggle to meet. Beyond the official tuition fees, students face ballooning accommodation charges and the cost of academic materials. These expenses often exceed the basic fees. Many students from mining belts are caught in a bind where their local economies are busy extracting wealth, but the cost of living keeps rising in sync with these activities. Scholarships like the one provided by Asanko act as a buffer against inflation and economic shocks.

This specific programme prioritizes students from the immediate catchment area. It ensures that the wealth generated by the land is felt directly by the families living on it. By focusing on essential needs like housing and tuition, the initiative tackles the most common reasons why students drop out in their second or third year.

  • Total beneficiaries: 31 students
  • New intake: 15 students
  • Continuing cohort: 16 students
  • Maximum individual support: GH₵10,000 per year
  • Primary target regions: Amansie West and Amansie South districts
  • Core goal: Providing tuition and accommodation support