By: Kizito CUDJOE
March is a time of reflection and celebration in Ghana, a moment to honour the nation’s rich heritage, resilience, and progress.
As the country marks 68 years of independence, attention naturally shifts to the pillars sustaining its future. Among them, education stands out as a key driver of national development, shaping the next generation of leaders, innovators, and professionals.
At the same time, Ghana’s mineral wealth remains a critical force behind its economic trajectory. The country currently holds the top spot as Africa’s leading gold producer, an enviable position that remains to be tested in the months ahead.
The sector accounted for over 60 percent of total export revenue in 2023 and contributed GH₵11.5 billion in taxes, making up 23 percent of domestic revenue collected by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
Early data from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources suggests Ghana is on track to retain its status, with gold output expected to surpass four million ounces in 2024.
Provisional data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) released on March 10, 2025, indicates that real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 5.7 percent in 2024, up from 3.1 percent in 2023. Mining and quarrying, primarily gold, was a major driver of this growth, recording a remarkable 19.1 percent increase.
While gold has long symbolized Ghana’s wealth, the country’s most valuable resource is its people, particularly the young minds being shaped for the future. Beyond its economic contributions, the mining sector plays a crucial role in this transformation.
Companies like AngloGold Ashanti Ghana (AGA) have embedded education at the heart of their corporate social investments, ensuring their legacy extends beyond the mines to classrooms, lecture halls, and training centres in the communities they operate.
AngloGold Ashanti Ghana’s commitment to education
As one of Ghana’s biggest gold producers, AGA’s operations extend far beyond mining, with a commitment substantially to education — building schools, funding scholarships, and supporting skills development programmes that create opportunities for young Ghanaians.
This challenges the common but erroneous perception that mining companies leave their host communities impoverished and underdeveloped. Through its subsidiaries, the Obuasi and the Iduapriem mines, the company has undertaken transformative initiatives that have not only improved educational infrastructure but also promoted innovation, empowered youth, and enhanced economic opportunities within its host communities.
Education is at the heart of AGA’s long-term vision for sustainable community development.
One of the company’s most significant initiatives is the establishment of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Obuasi Campus. The Obuasi Mine donated the renovated North Mine properties to KNUST for a satellite campus in 2019.
Since its first intake of 324 students in 2019, the university has grown exponentially, with 2,575 students enrolled in the 2023/24 academic year, pursuing degrees in Engineering, Business Administration, Medical Laboratory Services, Midwifery, and Nursing.
To drive continuous improvement, AngloGold Ashanti has donated over GH₵ 1 million in funding for infrastructure expansion, including the refurbishment of an auditorium, the construction of an e-learning centre, and the procurement of essential equipment.
The university currently employs 155 staff, including 69 senior members, 8 senior staff and 78 junior staff, contributing to job creation in Obuasi.
Through the Obuasi Community Trust Fund, 40 scholarships are awarded annually to host communities, ensuring that talented students from Obuasi’s host communities can access higher education.
This initiative has significantly boosted the local economy, creating opportunities for landowners, hostel operators, shop owners, food vendors, and transport service providers who serve students and faculty.
The relinquishing of mining infrastructure for academic use reduces environmental liability, supports mine closure efforts, and ensures the long-term sustainability of the Obuasi mine and its host communities.
With an additional 50-acre land donation by the Obuasi Municipal Assembly and traditional authorities, the campus is well-positioned for future expansion, securing its role as an engine for economic and academic growth.
Developing strong foundations: Basic and STEM education investments
Recognizing that quality education starts at the foundational level, AGA has invested in basic education across its host communities:
- Since its establishment in 1961, the AngloGold Ashanti School at Obuasi, has produced three Presidential Independence Day Award winners since 2019. It currently has 3,354 students enrolled, with 82 percent from host communities, and employs 220 people.
- Sanso Basic School at Obuasi is a GH₵ 8.4 million ultra-modern school, opened in January 2024. It has a library, ICT centre, sick bay, canteen, modern washrooms, and teacher offices. This facility enhances learning conditions for young students in Obuasi.
- The construction of two examination printing centres for Obuasi Municipal and Obuasi East Municipal Assemblies at a total cost of over GH₵ 4 million supports the printing of examination question papers, including mock exams for students preparing for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
- Tamso Anglican Basic School at Iduapriem is a six-unit, fully furnished school with ancillary facilities, improving access to quality education in Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality.
- Construction of a 12-unit fully furnished classroom block for the UMaT Basic School at Iduapriem.
- Construction of teachers’ quarters for the Abompuniso and New Techiman Basic schools, ensuring that teachers can reside closer to their students, improving attendance and academic performance.
Robotics and AI: Empowering the next generation of innovators
AngloGold Ashanti is not just supporting traditional education; it is shaping the future of STEM and AI education in Ghana.
- Robotics Centre at Obuasi Secondary Technical School: This cutting-edge facility will provide students and other interested youth in Obuasi with training in artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital technology, positioning Obuasi as a hub for technological innovation.
- Iduapriem Mine is constructing a Smart Systems (Robotics) Centre at UMaT. This state-of-the-art centre is designed to provide training in AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), and robotics tools. Robotic kits worth over US$700,000 have already been delivered.
Empowering youth through scholarships and apprenticeship programmes
To support lifelong learning and career advancement, AGA provides extensive scholarships and apprenticeship programmes:
- Community Scholarship Scheme at the Iduapriem Mine awarded 70 new scholarships in 2024, with 50 percent reserved for females in STEM. Scholarships cover full tuition, accommodation, and academic expenses up to GH₵ 3,500 per year.
- 30 students receive internships annually, and 18% of national service personnel at Obuasi Mine come from KNUST Obuasi Campus.
- Youth Apprenticeship Programme (Iduapriem & Obuasi):
- 15 girls graduated in tailoring and dressmaking in 2024 and received business startup support at the Iduapriem Mine, Tarkwa.
- 30 more girls enrolled in the fashion apprenticeship program.
- 40 youth from Tarkwa and its environs trained in welding, fabrication, and mining operations at Obuasi Mac Partners Training Institute, with full sponsorship covering training, accommodation, transportation, medical bills, and a GH₵ 2,000 monthly stipend by Iduapriem Mine.
- 100 community youth from Obuasi and its environs are trained annually in auto electrician, auto mechanics, mechanical technician, electrical technician, welding and fabrication, among others, at Obuasi Mac Partners Training Institute. Apprentices are fully sponsored and receive a monthly stipend of US$150.
Stakeholder collaboration for access towards quality education
The significant impact of AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mines’ support on education within the various municipalities was acknowledged by Catherine Biney, Tarkwa Municipal Director of Education.
She highlighted the company’s comprehensive approach. “AGA Iduapriem Mine has been a key partner in education, providing essential infrastructure such as classroom blocks and teacher accommodation. This has helped retain educators in underserved areas, ensuring stability and continuity in teaching,” she said.
“Expanding classroom facilities has also increased enrollment and made our public schools more attractive to parents,” she added.
Beyond infrastructure, AngloGold Ashanti supports education by providing learning materials and reading books. These resources help facilitators create a more engaging and effective learning environment.
She said the support extends to teachers as well, offering incentives that enhance motivation and improve performance. “Importantly, these incentives are not limited to basic schools but extend to senior high schools (SHS) as well, ensuring a broader impact across the education sector,” she added.
Also, the Obuasi Municipal Director of Education, George Alfred Koomson, stated that AGA’s education initiatives in Obuasi have significantly improved access, quality, and infrastructure.
“These initiatives have improved both infrastructure and learning outcomes,” he stated. He noted that the distribution of 147,000 learning materials has provided vital support for students and teachers.
He acknowledged that AGA’s commitment to capacity building is evident through its biannual teacher workshops, which have significantly improved classroom instruction. This investment, he noted, has translated into tangible academic success, with Obuasi’s latest BECE results recording a 97 percent pass rate—an achievement local officials hope to increase to 100 percent in the coming years.
Furthermore, he observed that the company’s focus on inclusivity has ensured that school infrastructure is disability-friendly and that programs such as career guidance and counselling help girls, including those who have stopped attending school because of teenage pregnancies, return to education.
“AGA has built an examination center, which now prints mock exams annually for municipal schools,” Koomson added.
Similarly, the Director of Education for Obuasi East, Mr. Owusu Nketia, said AGA’s education interventions have significantly improved access, infrastructure, and learning outcomes in Obuasi.
“Educational access in Obuasi has improved, with rising enrollment in public schools partly due to the availability of essential learning materials, including textbooks. Since the introduction of the new curriculum, approximately 140,000 books have been supplied to support learning,” Mr. Nketia said.
A targeted reading program, supported by AngloGold Ashanti, has also yielded remarkable results. “Before the intervention, 52 percent of lower primary students were non-readers in English and 64 percent in Ghanaian languages. After training workshops for teachers, good readers in English have increased to 83 percent, and in Ghanaian languages to 74 percent,” Nketia noted.
Looking ahead, he said “If other districts received the level of support we get in Obuasi, education across the country would improve significantly.”
The company’s initiatives also support marginalized groups, including girls and children with disabilities. The establishment of the Inclusive Tech Laboratory at UMaT by Iduapriem Mine offers training in ICT for persons with disability in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality.
The Mine also implements its Adolescent Health Programme to improve enrolment and retention through the monthly distribution of free sanitary pads and the establishment of girls-friendly washrooms in the host community basic schools.
Beyond Education: Sustainable investments for community growth
Through strategic investments in education, AngloGold Ashanti is ensuring long-term community development, enhancing access to learning, and equipping youth with skills for the future. Its commitment to education continues to transform lives, solidify economic resilience, and leave a lasting impact beyond mining operations.
As Ghana celebrates its 68th year of independence, it is fitting to spotlight the contributions of companies like AngloGold Ashanti. Its investments in education empower individuals and foster innovation, ensuring that communities around Obuasi and Tarkwa are resilient and self-sustaining.
