Fourty-eight students of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) have received full scholarships from GoldFields Ghana Foundation.
The beneficiaries who were selected mainly from Tarkwa (29 students) and Damang (19 students) host communities, received GH¢115,000.
The scholarship covers full Academic Facility User Fees of the beneficiaries for the 2022 /2023 academic year.
Speaking at a short handover ceremony, the Vice President in charge of Operations at Gold Fields West Africa, Michael Van Der Merwe, said the support was part of Gold Fields Ghana Foundation’s scholarship scheme which had since 2002 supported 2,448 youth from both Tarkwa and Damang, host communities to achieve quality education.
He indicated that the scholarship package was one of the benefits for residents in mining communities.
“These beneficiary students will not worry about the payment of their fees or any increase whether they are schooling at UCC, KNUST, UMAT or UG,” he added.
Mr. Merwe announced that the Foundation was paying a total sum of GH C 779, 583. 50 to cover for accommodation, examination, and other approved charges.
He added: “The Foundation has introduced the bulk payment of Academic Facility User Fees (AFUF) on behalf of the 325 beneficiaries in the four Universities.
This has helped to eliminate the delays that are sometimes associated with receiving bills directly from students which in turn affects their registration each academic year.”
The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Education Minister, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour and representatives from institutions of the benfeciary students.
For her part, the Administrator at the Students’ Financial Support Office, Ms Grace Mensah, expressed gratitude to GoldFields Ghana Foundation for the nice gesture.
Ms. Mensah later presented a dummy cheque on behalf of the beneficiary students from UCC to the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rosemond Boohene, at her office.
