The AngloGold Ashanti International Women’s Day Fair was held on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at Anyinam Lodge in Obuasi, Ghana. This event, themed “Acceleration Action,” served as a transformative celebration of women and the community spirit of Obuasi.
Attendees had the opportunity to explore various booths, including one hosted by the DreamOval Foundation, which provided engaging activities and resources particularly in STEM education.
The fair underscored the urgent need for increased investment in gender equality and inclusivity, focusing on four key thematic areas: women’s roles in local economic development, the promotion of STEM education and related careers, women’s health, and the celebration and preservation of cultural heritage while fostering inclusivity.
Mr. Samuel Pobee, Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti Ghana, delivered the welcome address, acknowledging the presence of esteemed female dignitaries, particularly the queen mothers of the Obuasi communities. In his speech, he expressed unwavering support for women’s empowerment and commended the efforts of women making significant contributions to the Obuasi Municipality.
OUR IMPACT AT THE FAIR
The DreamOval Foundation booth at the AngloGold Ashanti International Women’s Day Fair played a pivotal role in promoting awareness and engagement in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) for women and young girls. By offering fun, hands-on activities and insightful discussions, the booth served as a hub for inspiring curiosity, building confidence, and encouraging more women to explore opportunities in STEM fields.
We showcased a variety of engaging puzzle games, Legos, and Jenga, all closely aligned with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) principles, as these activities foster critical skills essential in these fields. We observed numerous students and visitors engaging in practical problem-solving exercises as they explored the different methods for fitting the pieces together.
Our team emphasized the significance of incorporating these games into STEM education. We highlighted that such activities do not only enhance students’ logical reasoning and practical problem-solving abilities but also nurture creativity and lay a strong foundation in engineering and mathematical thinking.
The team also engaged visitors with flyers of our recent initiatives as an organization:
The WEITech Initiative, which focuses on Advancing Digital Literacy for Women Educators in Ghana. With its official launch in April, we advised all to engage with content across our website and social media pages as a way of supporting our mission of equipping female educators with essential digital skills to enhance career prospects and educational delivery in our technology-driven world.
The Ghana Science and Tech Explorer Prize Challenge (GSTEP) , a young people-focused programme that encourages and supports Junior High School (JHS) students (ages 11-16) and teachers across the Greater Accra, Eastern and Ashanti regions of Ghana to develop innovative inventions that is built through practical Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths (STEM) skills and products that benefit our local communities.
With the GSTEP Regional Finalist Induction events taking place in the second week of March, we encouraged everyone to follow along as we progress through the competition. We also took a moment to chat with the teachers who accompanied their students to the fair, reminding them to gear up for the next phase in 2026. Additionally, we highlighted the exciting opportunities available for Mentoring and Technical Coach positions in the challenge prize.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FAIR
Partners of the event, including the Underground Mining Alliance (UMA), Veolia Ghana, Quantum LC Company Limited, MacPartners Group, and the DreamOval Foundation, also expressed their support for the welfare and empowerment of women.
Philippe Pearse, Project Manager for the Underground Mining Alliance, outlined his commitment to supporting women in the workforce and within the Obuasi community in three key areas. He emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for female employees in mining companies and vowed to address inappropriate behaviors and intimidation faced by women in both professional and community settings.
Nana Akua Dwum II, Queen Mother of the Edubiase Division, emphasized the importance of women enhancing their homemaking skills. She urged a return to preparing healthy traditional dishes in households, highlighting the contrast between these nourishing meals and the prevalence of unhealthy fast foods consumed by many modern women and girls.
In her closing remarks, she urged all young women and girls at the fair to explore the various cooking booths set up on site to learn how traditional foods are prepared. She encouraged everyone to enjoy hearty meals made by our mothers, highlighting some delicacies such as “Apapransa with its accompaniments, Mpotompotor, Fufu, and Tuo Zaafi.”
Following the overview of the various booths, including the Health Booth, Traditional Booth, Economic Booth, and STEM Booth, Mr. Samuel Pobee, Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti Ghana, officially declared the International Women’s Day Fair open.
The AngloGold Ashanti International Women’s Day Fair was a truly inspiring event! It brought together people to celebrate women, showcase impactful projects, and foster action towards gender equality. With engaging activities and meaningful conversations about expanding opportunities for women, especially in STEM fields, we’re thrilled about the positive changes this momentum is sure to bring in the future.