Newmont Foundation awards GH¢891,000 worth of scholarships for 2011/2012 academic year

Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation (NADeF) has awarded scholarships to 827 students to the tune of GH¢891,499.44 for the 20111/2012 academic year.

This brings to 2,355 the total number of scholarships the foundation has awarded in less than three years.

A statement signed by Mr. Joseph Danso, Executive Secretary of NADeF and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani on Wednesday said a total amount of GH¢2,026,279.01 had so far been spent on the beneficiaries.

NADeF was established in May 2008 following two years of engagement with the Ahafo Social Responsibility Forum (ASRF), a key stakeholder group of Newmont Ahafo mine as a mechanism to manage Newmont’s sustainable community development commitment in and around the mine-take area.

The beneficiaries are from Ntotroso, Kenyasi number one, Kenyasi number two, Gyedu, Wamahinso in the Asutifi District as well as Afrisipakrom Techire, Yamfo Susuanso and Adrobaa in Tano North District of Brong-Ahafo Region.

NADeF is being funded by the Ahafo mine of Newmont based on contributions from one dollar of every ounce of gold sold and one percent of net pre-tax profit.

The statement said the beneficiaries are made up of 853 females and 1,482 males in both second cycle and tertiary institutions.

Some of them are pursuing various programmes including Medicine, Geology, Computer Science, Accounting, Marketing, Pharmacy, Sociology, Information Studies, Political Science, Electrical Engineering, Journalism and Integrated Community Development Studies, it added.

The statement said some of the beneficiaries were currently undertaking their National Service with NGGL and other institutions and expressed the optimism that upon completion, most of them would find various ways of helping in the development of their communities either directly or indirectly.

Source: GNA