The Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation, in partnership with Newmont, has officially commissioned the Otumfuo–Newmont AI for Youth Center in Sankore.
The facility is the fourth of six Smart Labs being established across Ghana to expand access to future-focused digital and STEM education. Fully funded by Newmont and implemented by Coral Reef Innovation Africa (CRIA), the new center reflects the Otumfuo Foundation’s mission to broaden learning opportunities for Ghanaian youth regardless of geography.
The Sankore center forms part of a national effort to equip young people in underserved communities with hands-on skills in artificial intelligence, robotics, coding, problem-solving, digital creativity and STEM innovation.
The initiative reinforces the shared vision of the Otumfuo Foundation, Newmont and CRIA to promote educational access, equity and inclusion for all children.
The launch builds on the strong results achieved at the AI for Youth Centers in Wioso and Kona. In Wioso, students trained in the Smart Lab placed fifth nationwide at the 2024 Ghana Robotics Competition, marking a milestone for a community previously underserved in digital literacy.
In Kona, a robotics team from the D/A Primary and JHS won the 2025 National Robotics Championship in Accra, outperforming elite schools from across the country.
Their victory demonstrates how access to tools, mentorship and opportunity can unlock exceptional potential in rural learners.
Newmont’s Social Performance Director, Joseph Danso, said the successes in Wioso, Kona and now Sankore show that brilliance exists in every Ghanaian community.
He noted that when the playing field is levelled, young people rise to meet global standards.
According to him, the Sankore center is equipped to support students from across the district and has been intentionally designed to serve learners of diverse backgrounds, including girls and children with special needs, ensuring equal access to 21st-century skills.
Elaine Oppong-Peprah, Administrator of the Otumfuo Foundation, emphasized that the initiative aligns with the vision of His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who places education, youth development and opportunity creation at the core of community transformation.
She described the launch as more than an infrastructural milestone, calling it a symbol of empowerment and possibility for the Sankore community.
Newmont reaffirmed its long-term commitment to advancing digital competence and future-ready skills among young people.
Danso noted that the company is proud to support a programme that is shaping Ghana’s next generation of innovators, adding that Newmont has invested more than GHS 1.7 million to establish six educational facilities under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Otumfuo Foundation.
Coral Reef Innovation Africa (CRIA), the implementing partner, continues to train teachers and mentor students across all Smart Labs.
Audrey-Bertha Nartey, Country Lead of CRIA, said the organisation’s mission is to “Empower Tomorrow Today,” explaining that each new center strengthens a nationwide ecosystem where children can learn, create, compete and lead.
She stressed that the achievements in Wioso and Kona prove that when rural learners gain access, they rise, and that Sankore is now part of a growing network shaping Ghana’s innovation future.
The Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation remains committed to designing sustainable programmes that improve the quality of life for Ghanaians, inspired by the vision of His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Newmont, the world’s leading gold company and a global producer of multiple minerals, continues to champion responsible mining and community-focused development across its operational jurisdictions.
Coral Reef Innovation Africa, a Pan-African EdTech and innovation organisation, promotes digital inclusion, AI literacy and teacher empowerment to expand future-skills learning among underserved youth.
