The University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, through its newly established School of Mines and Built Environment at Kenyasi Campus, has disclosed its agenda of establishing a scholarship scheme to award women who will enroll to study mining and its related programs at the University. This was made known when the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako, and some delegates from the University, paid a working visit to the Board Chairman of the Minerals Development Fund, Mr. Kwaku Sakyi-Addo in Accra.
Prof. Asare-Bediako revealed that the University seeks to promote gender equality, no poverty, Decent Work and Economic Growth and Reduced Inequalities as enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals 1, 5, 8 and 10 respectively. He further lamented that less than 10% of the global mining workforce are women and it is far less in Ghana. In particular, women are more involved in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Ghana and the rest of Africa. Nonetheless, women still fall below 10% of the working force in the subsector. In essence, the University has partnered with the Association of Women in Mining in Ghana, and Africa, to establish a Special Scholarship Scheme fund to address the gap. This Scheme when established shall be managed by the School of Mines and Built Environment to assist female students who seek higher learning in mining.
He appealed to the Mineral Development Fund and other donors to partner with the University to help achieve the interest of mining in Ghana Africa and beyond.
In his response, Mr Kwaku Sakyi-Addo thanked the Vice-Chancellor for the visit and commended the University for ensuring sustainable mining in the country through its establishment of the School of Mines and Built Environment with unique academic programs and research agenda. He further assured the University of their support to the University in many areas including Women in Mining, and Research. In particular, the MDF pledges to play an active role in the running and sustainability of the 2-Day Transformational Dialogue on Small scale Mining. This annual event which is to be organised by the School of Mines and Built Environment is slated to take place in May, 2022 as discussed in the meeting.
In attendance was the Deputy Director of the Mineral Development Fund, Hon. Jaaja; the Head of Department for sustainable Mineral Resource Development, Dr. Abdul Wadood Moomen; a Lecturer at the School of Mines and Built Environment, Raymond Kudzawu-D’Pherdd, Secretary to the Planning Committee for the 2-Day Transformational Dialogue on Small Scale Mining, Mr. John Kwasi Annan; and a representative from the University Relations Office and a member of the committee, Mr. Benjamin Gyamera.
