Gold Fields Ghana Foundation Invests Over $105 Million in Host Communities, Awards 160 Scholarships

This investment spans host communities of the company’s Tarkwa and Damang mines, focusing on areas such as education, infrastructure, health, agriculture, enterprise development, and water and sanitation.The announcement was made by Mr. Robert Siaw, Community Relations Manager of Gold Fields Ghana, at a colourful scholarship awards ceremony held to celebrate the Foundation’s latest milestone in educational support.

Mr. Siaw emphasized that the Foundation remains the main vehicle for Gold Fields’ corporate social responsibility efforts. “Our investment is a way of ensuring socio-economic development and creating enduring value beyond mining. We are determined to continue operating safely, sustainably and responsibly. We value the growth and well-being of our host communities,” he said.

This year, 160 tertiary students from Tarkwa and Damang catchment areas have been awarded scholarships under the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation’s programme, which began in 2002. The Foundation also announced that, for the first time in two years, students from the Damang catchment area were included in the scholarship scheme, thanks to an additional $100,000 funding support from the World Gold Council.

Mr. Siaw noted that this extra funding has increased both the number of beneficiaries and the overall value of awards in the Tarkwa area, compared to the previous year. “This enables us to further empower young talents to achieve their full potential,” he added.

Over 2,700 Beneficiaries and Counting

Since its inception, the scholarship programme has supported 2,736 students, with 498 currently in school and 3,238 graduates now contributing to national development.

The Foundation has allocated approximately $144,000 for accommodation, hostel fees, and approved learning materials for the 160 beneficiaries in their first academic year. In addition, all recipients receive annual stipends to support their education journey.

The demographic breakdown of this year’s cohort is also significant: 52% are females, with 48% males. Half of the students are pursuing engineering-related programmes, 30% are in science fields such as IT, environmental science, nursing, and midwifery, while the remaining 20% are enrolled in humanities and business disciplines.

Inclusive and Future-Focused Education

In a significant milestone, this year’s programme includes, for the first time, students with disabilities, underlining the Foundation’s growing commitment to inclusive education.

Moreover, Gold Fields is looking beyond traditional education. In partnership with the Canadian Organisation for Development through Education (CODE), it is rolling out a literacy initiative aimed at improving reading and comprehension skills in 37 public schools across Tarkwa and Damang, targeting pupils from Primary 1 to Primary 6.

In response to growing global interest in artificial intelligence, the Foundation recently commissioned a new smart lab in the New Atuabo community. Two teachers have already received training in robotics and AI, reflecting the Foundation’s alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goal 4—ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.

To ensure academic success beyond financial aid, the Foundation monitors beneficiaries by visiting their institutions, checking on their well-being, academic performance, and addressing challenges they may face.

Commendation from the Ministry of Education

Delivering a speech on behalf of the Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, former Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast and current technical advisor to the Minister, Prof. George K. T. Oduro, lauded Gold Fields for its consistent investment in education.

“The Ministry of Education acknowledges that the government alone cannot shoulder the full burden of providing quality and equitable education to all. In this regard, Gold Fields’ intervention is not only timely but strategic,” he said.

Prof. Oduro highlighted that the Foundation has invested over $15 million in scholarships alone, helping shape the lives of thousands. “Each of the 160 scholarship recipients today stands as a beacon of hope, a symbol of community pride, and a future leader,” he remarked.

He also announced new government initiatives aimed at expanding access to education, including the No Fee Stress Policy, which has so far seen 129,000 first-year students apply for admission fee exemptions. In addition, Ghana has secured a $40 million grant from global partners, including the World Bank and the Global Partnership for Education, to boost skills development and TVET training.

Prof. Oduro called on other private sector players to emulate Gold Fields’ example: “Let this be a blueprint for public-private partnerships in education.”

Quoting former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, he concluded, “Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress in every society and every family.”

A Shared Vision for the Future

The event drew dignitaries, including traditional leaders, educators, parents, and officials from Gold Fields. The collective message was clear: education is the cornerstone of community empowerment, and partnerships between corporate entities and the government are essential in building a skilled, inclusive, and forward-looking generation.

As the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation celebrates over two decades of impactful investment, it continues to demonstrate that mining can—and should—go hand in hand with human development.

Source: Nana Esi Brew Monney

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