Galamsey, illegal small-scale mining in Ghana, significantly negatively impacts girls’ education by causing high school dropout rates, poor academic performance, and early involvement in mining activities, often due to the lure of quick income, which disrupts their schooling and perpetuates a cycle of poverty, particularly in communities where mining is prevalent; this is further exacerbated by factors like lack of access to quality education, poverty, and societal pressures to contribute to household income.
Just like any other mining community, Obuasi is not spared of the adverse effects of illegal mining on girls. Poised to fight this, Gyinapintinhemaa foundation in collaboration with the Obuasi Health Directorate has organized a mentorship program for girls in Obuasi.
More than 200 Junior High School students in Obuasi attended the program which was aimed at balancing zeal with purpose among JHS learners and mentor them to make the right career choices in life.
According to Cecilia Mensah the Girls Coordinator at the Obuasi Municipal Education Directorate, they have realized that, a key factor hampering the academic and career development of girls in mining communities is lack of mentorship.
She said girls in galamsey areas are exposed to a lot of harmful behaviors like teenage pregnancy, child delinquency, drug abuse, which do not bode well for their career development. She said, choosing the right mentor to guide them in life will enable them to fulfill their dreams.
Distinguished women across various disciplines such as health, engineering, education, etc, were on hand to mentor and coach the students on making the right career choices. This, Mrs. Mensah said was geared towards helping the girls identify their mentors, walk with them till they achieve their goals.
Dr. Amina Achiaa Asiedu Amoah, a retired educationist who was the guest speaker at the program emphasized that promoting tertiary education in mining communities is essential for sustainable development and improving the socioeconomic conditions of these communities.
In promoting tertiary education, she advocated for the establishment of scholarship programs specifically for students from mining communities or as well as developing courses and programs that are directly relevant to the needs and opportunities in the mining sector, such as mining engineering, geology, environmental management etc. which should also include vocational training and certification programs that can provide immediate job opportunities.
A participant at the program Rachel Yakubu Coffie of the AngloGold Ashanti JHS commended organizers for putting together the program. She said she has been empowered to make the right career choices and encouraged girls to make themselves available for such mentorship programs.