The Otumfuo Foundation, in partnership with Newmont Gold and Coral Reef hub, has commissioned an AI Laboratory for St Peters’ Prim/JHS at Wioso, in the Ahafo Ano South West District of the Ashanti region.
The Smart Lab is expected to serve as the springboard for the youth to dive into the ever-changing world of technology, innovation and endless possibilities, as well as serve as incubators of ideas, a workshop of tomorrow’s inventors and a classroom of future leaders.
Mr Kwabena Owusu Ababio, Head of Stakeholders engagement, explained that the Asantehene’s vision for the foundation is to help improve health care and Education of the children of all school going ages to compete globally towards the total freedom and liberation of his people.
According to him, Newmont Gold has collaborated and supported Otumfuo’s vision to complement his 25th Anniversary with an AI Centre for the youth, to enhance his vision of development and growth.
Mr. Richard Osei Anim, Director of Coral Reef Hub, stated that their aim is to give the students technologies to compete globally in the area of health and education and become relevant in Ghana and Africa.
He urged the managers of the school to take good care of the facility and to ensure its sustainability by creating a fund to keep the project going through regular maintenance.
Mr. David Johnson, the Director of Communication and External Relations of Newmont Gold disclosed that there is ample evidence that less privileged communities are often overlooked because of distance from the main city centres and critical infrastructure where talent, creativity and dreams that deserve every opportunity to flourish are often overflowed.
Hence the need for the Newmont and the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation collaboration to take a giant leap forward in bridging the digital divide and ensuring that many more children in these less resourced communities are given the requisite support to be competitive globally.
He noted that the construction and commissioning of Wioso’s Smart Laboratory is more than just the construction and installation of equipment but symbolises a promise of empowerment, inclusion and value creation that directly improves the lives of less endowed communities.
He indicated that, as the world’s leading gold business, Newmont is well aware of the value of innovation and technologically driven development which explains their commitment to investing in education through their development foundations in Ahafo and Akyem, by maintaining a strong partnerships with progressive organisations such as the Otumfuo Foundation.
The collaboration, he said, comprises financial, technical and human resources of the forward-looking partners to bring the locked-up dreams of many young people to life.
Nana Prof Oheneba Boachie-Adjei Woahene II, Otumfuo Hiahene and the Board Chairman of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation explained that the Smart AI Laboratory would expose the school children to new technology and scientific advancement that could activate interest of the students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
He indicated that, His Royal Majesty in the past 25 years has been committed to enhancing the lives of people in our communities through provision of quality Education, quality Health care and promotion of programmes in ICT, among others.
The Board Chairman disclosed that the AI Laboratory for the people of Wioso is evidence of the continued commitment of the King to ensure that the people in the rural communities get access to various opportunities that are easily accessible to our brothers and sisters in the cities and big towns.
He expressed Otumfuo Foundation’s appreciation to Newmont Ghana for their commitment to collaborating with the foundation over the years to help achieve the objectives of the King’s social initiatives.
