Managers of scholarship funds urged to use need as criteria

Accra, Dec. 17, GNA - Mr. Tony Oteng Gyasi, Immediate Past President of Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), has appealed to managers of scholarship funds to let need become the only criteria in selecting beneficiaries. "Brilliance should not be the criteria in selecting beneficiaries for scholarship programmes because there are a lot of influential people in society who were not brilliant starters in school but climbed up the academic calendar and made it in life" He said.

Mr. Oteng Gyasi was speaking at the launch of a 180-page book authored by Professor Samuel Kingsley Botwe Asante and his wife Jane Botwe Asante. The book titled" Brightening Your Corner-A 12-year effort of Professor and Mrs. S.K.B Asante Educational Trust Fund 2003-2015" shares an experience with regard to the management and operation of the couple's educational trust fund. It was established in June 2003 in the Akyem Wenchi Education Circuit for four highly educationally deprived communities where the mining of diamond has become the paramount preoccupation of the youth.

The communities are Akyem Wenchi, Soabe, Takorase and Kusi in the Kwaebibirem District of the Akwatia constituency in the Eastern Region. The main objective of the fund is to offer 6 scholarships annually for a period of 12 years to qualified but needy Junior High School Pupils of the Akyem Wenchi Education Circuit to further their education from Senior High level to tertiary level.

Mr. Oteng Gyasi said despite government efforts to provide quality education for everybody, there are majority of needy students who require educational support. "We need to diagnose problems that are affecting the people in our rural areas and do the little that we can to find solution to these problems," he said. Mr. Oteng Gyasi said the provision of quality education should be the ultimate priority in improving and empowering human livelihoods.

Launching the book Most Rev. Emmanuel Kwaku Asante, Presiding Bishop of Methodist Church of Ghana, advised highly placed people in society to emulate the worthy example set by the couple and assist the needy in society.

Prof. Asante, co-author of the book, said since the establishment of the fund, nine of the beneficiary students are pursuing further education at University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and University of Cape Coast whilst 21 are in teacher training colleges and senior high schools. He said the trust fund has also contributed to the provision of accommodation for 14 teachers, electrification of one of the beneficiary communities as well as the construction of a bridge to facilitate transportation.

"An application by the board of trustees for the fund to the Ministry of Communication in March 2008 for the construction of a Community Information Centre at the education circuit has been approved and construction is nearing completion." "The Board has also succeeded in having a United States Peace Corps volunteer teacher posted to the Akyem Wenchi Education Circuit to train teachers and pupils in computer studies and other allied subjects," he said.

Dr. Vladmir Antwi Danso, Senior Research Fellow at the Legon Centre for International Affairs, University of Ghana who reviewed the book said the book was an inspirational tool for people who want to excel and assist others. Ms. Joyce Aryee, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Chamber of Mines, said since political institutions only create conditions for success. She said there was the need for people to desist from relying on these institutions and work hard to achieve their purpose in life. The first copy of the book was auctioned for GHC1,000.