The Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation, in partnership with Newmont Ghana, has commissioned the state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence (AI) youth centre at Toase in the Atwima Nwabiagya South of the Ashanti Region to equip the youth in innovative skills development.
The AI centre is equipped with modern tablets, projectors, smart charging units, robots and electronic kits, among others, which will provide learners with ideas of Science, Technology, Mathematics and Engineering (STEM).
The intervention is aimed at transforming education and empowering students within Toase and Nkawie to produce young entrepreneurs and inventors.
The Toase AI youth center forms part of the six AI Youth centers by Newmont Ghana in collaboration with Otumfuo Osei II Foundation with an estimated amount of One Million, Seven Hundred and Ten Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS 1,710,000.00) which underscores the company’s dedication to transforming lives by unearthing creativity, potential, and capacity of smart but less endowed youth in local communities.
This was signed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in July 2023 by the two entities to partner in the implementation of education-focused interventions for students in under-resourced communities over a three-year period.
So far, three out of the six centres have been established, including Wioso, Kona and Toase, all in the Ashanti region.
The Toase centre, which includes areas like Nkawie, Abuakwa, among others, will comprise basic and Senior High Schools.
In an interview with the paramount chief of Esumeja and Vice Board Chair of the Otumfuo Osei II Foundation, Nana Okyere Kusi Ntrama, said this initiative is part of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s vision of making sure that education reaches every person in Ghana.
He thus called on the government to consider proper research and engage people in order to ensure the policy of STEM education reaches everyone.
“I believe that every policy that the government is doing, especially with getting the STEM education on track, is to make sure the relevant people are consulted and also to be able to bring people together, whether private or public,” he added.
He further called on Toasehene and teachers to make sure that students who use the facility take good care of it.
Nana Okyere Kusi Ntrama also advised students to make good use of the facility.
“This is their time and opportunity; anytime they should use this facility, they should take good care of it and exploit as much as they can in the area of technology.
Director of Communications and External Relations for Newmont’s Business Unit in Africa, David Johnson, says education is a focus area of the company, which aligns with what the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation is doing.
“There is an alignment of interest if you look at the focus areas for the Otumfuo Foundation, one of the key focus areas is education and for Newmont as well. So there is an alignment in terms of the areas of focus, and then we look at specific areas where we want to get into under education, and we identify technology because essentially that is where the world is going,” he stated.
He further added that this will create an equal opportunity for under-resourced communities to also catch up quicker.”
“Just like this cohort started last year at Wioso, and they were able to compete at the national level and became fifth. That tells you that once they have the right equipment and guidance, they will be able to do much the same as their colleagues in the big cities.”
Furthermore, the Municipal Director of Education, Nana Pokua Boako, urged students to grab this opportunity and learn. She believes that the world is now a global village where the time of using the brain to do everything has come to pass.
She again called on the government to consider creating more AI centres in the Municipality. She believes that this project by the Otumfuo Foundation will help them, but they also need more.
“Our Municipal has six circuits, and this one will serve two circuits because of proximity. So it will serve Toase and Nkawie circuit, and we will plead with other stakeholders and the government to come to our aid.”
The facility was designed and will be managed by Coral Reef Innovation Hub.
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