From Ernest Best Anane
Nana Brefo-Boateng, Executive Secretary of the Otumfuo Education Fund, has disclosed that the Fund has, since its inception in 1999, awarded over 4,000 scholarships to brilliant but needy students to pursue education at the basic, second cycle, and tertiary institutions in Ghana.
He also revealed that eight scholarships had been awarded to individuals to pursue under-graduate and master’s degrees in the United States of America, and that some of the beneficiaries had completed their master’s degrees, while others had acquired doctoral degrees, and were currently contributing to the advancement of education and development of Asanteman and Ghana.
Nana Brefo made the disclosure at the Second Career Guidance and Counseling ceremony for selected Senior High Schools at the Center for National Culture in Kumasi.
He said the fund had also offered assistance for educational and infrastructural development, through the renovation of dormitories, provision of computers, library books, dual desks and chairs, school uniforms, and water tanks among others to over 150 schools.
Under the programme, the Fund adopts and renovates schools, including the former Trabuom Secondary, now transformed into a model girls school, known as Afua Kobi Senior High School, to promote female education,.
He said the fund sometimes provided money to selected schools for the purchasing of educational facilities, and has also provided or renovated school blocks, as well as provided funds to organise best teacher awards to recognise the selfless services of deserving teachers.
The Executive Director said, last year, the fund organised the first edition of a career guidance and counseling programme for 5,000 students selected from schools in the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Eastern regions.
Dr. Edward Brenya, Administrative Manager, said 14 years down the line, the Fund had done a lot in terms of education, as the number of beneficiaries would increase to 9,000 this year.
He said the guidance and counseling aspect of the Fund would help students to identify the subjects they can perform well in, so as not to be stranded after their second cycle education.
He hinted the establishment of an Asanteman University, through the Otumfuo Education Fund in the near future, and that the Fund aspires to extend its benevolence to students from all ten regions in Ghana.