Financial limitations remain a major threat to the educational aspirations of young people within communities in the Amansie South and West Districts, with some of them often on the verge of giving up on these dreams because there is no help.

Most young people from less endowed homes abandon their tertiary education aspirations, with financial barriers usually being the excuse.

Twenty-four-year-old Emmanuel Aboagye from Manso Nkensu, who had dreams of pursuing an engineering course at the tertiary level, was hit by major financial setbacks when his parents and relatives who were supposed to support him died just when he was shaping his future.

With tears welling up in his eyes, Emmanuel explained that "Even my brother’s nephew, who wanted to help me, planned to secure a loan for me. But he also passed away shortly before I gained admission into the school. So, honestly, I thought it was never going to happen that I would find myself in the university to pursue my engineering dream.

"I had no hope but God has done it for me. At that point, I felt like giving up and maybe trying to find some business to do because I simply didn’t know what else to do. I would sit alone and think a lot. Life then was full of tears. Sometimes I would be indoors, crying, thinking deeply because I love to study. I truly wanted to become an engineer in the near future.”

There are several other young people within communities in the Amansie West and South Districts with similar stories of how financial limitations continue to threaten their educational journeys.

An intervention by Asanko Gold Ghana Limited, under its five-year Social and Economic Development Plan (SEDEP), has introduced a scholarship component to address this pressing concern.

Under the initiative, fifteen (15) students from the company’s host communities are selected through a rigorous and transparent process conducted by the Scholarship Selection Committee.

The Committee includes representatives from the District Education Directorates, the Assemblies, Divisional Chiefs, and officials from Asanko Gold Ghana Limited. The scholarship covers tuition, residential fees, and other approved academic charges. Beneficiaries will each receive up to GH₵10,000 per year, totaling GH₵30,000–40,000 over the course of their programme.

The Committee will also monitor annual academic performance reviews of beneficiaries, who will also have opportunities for internships and national service with Asanko and its contractors. They will have ongoing interaction with Asanko’s Environment and Sustainability team and receive long-term follow-up on their academic and career progress.

Beneficiaries shared heartwarming stories that nearly dashed their tertiary educational dreams.

General Manager of Asanko Gold Ghana Limited, Ahmed Mohadini-Yahaya, speaking at the Scholarship Programme, emphasized that the objective is not simply to help students begin their tertiary journey, but to see them progress, complete their studies and pursue meaningful careers.

He added that “We hope they will return as engineers, teachers, health professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders within their communities.”

He indicated that the long-term plan is to equip young people within the host communities through education, who in some years to come, he hopes, they will take up key positions at Asanko Gold Ghana Limited.



“We want to reach a stage where the people within the catchment areas are able to easily secure roles at the mine based on their qualification and eventually hold key positions at the mine.” he said.

Scholarship beneficiaries like Emmanuel Aboagye say they have heaved a sigh of relief following the intervention by Asanko Gold Ghana Limited.

Emmanuel, excited about the intervention, said:

“I secured the scholarship to pursue my dream course at the university. I am very, very happy, and I am also very grateful to the Asanko Gold Ghana for this great opportunity. In fact, I am not sure that without this scholarship I would have had the opportunity to pursue my dream of becoming a mechatronic engineer. I am extremely grateful, and I thank God so much for today.”

Parents of the beneficiaries and chiefs from the host communities lauded Asanko Gold Ghana Ltd for the intervention and urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity.