Damang (W/R), Oct. 26, GNA-Abosso Goldfields Limited (AGL) has increased its scholarship package for students pursuing various degree programmes at the tertiary level from GH?3,800 to GH?6,000 per student annually.
The increment is to take away the financial stress parents go through to support their wards and also make tertiary education more accessible to the less privileged.
Mr Abdel-Razak Yakubu, Regional Manager-Sustainable Development Projects, announced this at the quarterly Damang Mine Community Consultative Committee (DMCCC) meeting held at Damang in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality.
He said AGL usually provided full scholarship and bursaries for needy but brilliant students in its host communities to help them further their studies.
The company did an assessment and realised that over the years, parents whose wards had bursaries still went through tough times to pay their fees, utilities and even providing them pocket money, Mr Yakubu explained.
« So the value of the scholarship was increased but this again is based on the invoices that the student would present. We are not just going to write a cheque of GH?6,000 and give to each student, they must provide proof and the company will settle the bill on their behalf « .
Mr Yakubu assured the communities that the company would commence processing of the scholarship soon and the new scholarship award would take effect by January 2021.
Gold Fields Foundation had been awarding scholarship and bursaries for its host communities since 2005 and so far, 604 students have benefited.
Nana Kwabena Amponsah II, Divisional Chief of Wassa Subrisu, expressed gratitude to AGL for creating the opportunity for more needy but brilliant students to graduate and contribute their quota to the development of their respective communities and the country at large.
