By: Nicholas Osei-Wusu
The teaching and study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, STEM in Obuasi and the surrounding communities in the Ashanti region has received a major boost with the inauguration and operationalization of a Robotics Centre built at a cost of eight point-four million Ghana Cedis.
The Robotics Centre, financed by AngloGold Ashanti, is also to serve as the hub for technological innovation, creativity and advancement of the study of emerging cutting edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence.
The Obuasi Robotics Centre, fully funded by AngloGold Ashanti is among the first of its kind in the country
It is being hosted by the Obuasi Senior High Technical School but meant for use by all second cycle schools within the Adansi traditional area of the Ashanti region for the study of mainly robotics and by extension, engineering, science and technology.
The project is aimed at unlocking the creative, innovation and problem-solving abilities of the students to become globally and technologically competitive.
It is also to serve as a hub for students’ understanding and advancement of emerging cutting edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence, A.I. while encouraging children right from basic to tertiary educational level develop interest in the sciences.
The Robotics Centre is equipped with a laboratory for students’ exploration in robotics, coding, algorithm, creativity and engineering. It has also an exhibition hall, an Arduino lab, which is an open space for learning the language of modern electronics.
The Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine, Ing. Samuel Boakye Pobee, explained the Robotics Centre is in line with the Mine’s strategic development Programme aimed at making Obuasi and its environs skilled and progressive beyond gold mining.
He encouraged the setting up of Robotics Clubs in all schools within the Obuasi enclave to nurture the children into becoming engineers and inventors toward making Obuasi greater again, a vision founded on th pillars of Safety, Productivity, People and Sustainability.
“This vision is a strong, skilled. forward-looking Obuasi, a community not left behind in progress”, The MD said.
The Obuasi West Municipal Chief Executive, Madam Faustilove Appiah Kanin, observed that the project is more than a physical structure as it is to become the key to unearthing the creative and problem solving capabilities of not only school children but the youth in the Obuasi and the Adansi enclave.
The MCE said, “this Centre is not just a remarkable investment in physical infrastructure, but a profound investment in the future of our students.”
“We deeply appreciate the solid commitment of AngloGold Ashanti towards the development of Obuasi”, Madam Kanin said.
The Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Mr. William Amankra Appiah, said the Centre would facilitate efforts of government to transform formal education from theory to practical in a way that brings out the creative problem-solving abilities of school children.
