Mr Yakubu Mohammed (seated 4th from right), MP for Ahafo Ano South East, Prof Richard Amankwah (seated 5th from right), Vice Chancellor, UMaT, Mr Issah Taylor (seated 5th from left), MP for Tarkwa Nsuaem, Ms Theresa Gyasi-Antwi (seated right), Chairperson, WoMCom, other dignitaries and the student award recipients after the presentation ceremony
The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) has awarded full scholarships to 45 brilliant but needy female students of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, under its flagship Women from Mining Communities (WomCoM) scholarship scheme.
Launched in June 2024, the initiative is part of MIIF’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) drive to empower academically gifted young women from Ghana’s mining communities to pursue studies in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and mining-related disciplines.
This year’s scholarship package, valued at GHC 460,000, benefited 43 undergraduate and 2 postgraduate students. Undergraduate beneficiaries each received GHCS10,000, while postgraduate recipients were awarded GHS15,000, covering tuition, accommodation, and other essential expenses.
The WomCoM programme received over 100 applications, with 45 successful candidates selected through a rigorous vetting process supervised by a five-member Steering Committee comprising representatives from MIIF and UMaT.
Gender equity in mining
At the award ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of MIIF, Mrs. Justina Nelson—whose speech was delivered on her behalf by the Member of Parliament for Ahafo Ano South-East, Mr. Yakubu Mohammed—reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to gender equity in the extractive sector.
“Our goal is not to provide partial help; we are here to make real impact. Beyond financial support, we are lifting burdens, raising aspirations, and changing narratives in communities that have often been left behind,” she said.
Mrs. Nelson commended the partnership with UMaT, under the leadership of Prof. Richard Amankwah, and expressed appreciation to the Steering Committee for its integrity in managing the process since its inception.
She further announced that MIIF plans to expand the programme to include the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to broaden its impact across more mining communities.
Corporate Ghana’s contribution
This year’s awards were supported by OmniBSIC Bank, Access Bank, Zenith Bank, First Atlantic Bank, First Bank, and Procus Ghana Limited (makers of Kivo products).
“Their contributions mark a new phase of collaboration between MIIF and corporate Ghana in advancing education and gender equity,” Mrs. Nelson noted. She expressed hope that more companies will join forces with MIIF to expand the programme to support more women in STEM.
Addressing the beneficiaries, she added: “You were chosen not only for your academic potential but because you embody hope. Strive for excellence and remember you are paving the way for many more girls who will look to you and believe that they too can succeed.”
The Vice Chancellor of UMaT, Prof. Richard Amankwah, lauded MIIF for the initiative, stressing that while minerals will eventually deplete, investments in human capital will yield lasting generational impact. He encouraged more corporate bodies to support the scheme to ensure its sustainability.
