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The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has announced the termination of its longstanding scholarship program, attributing the decision to the implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) initiative by the government.
In place of the scholarship scheme, COCOBOD has launched the Cocoa Board Education Trust, which will focus on providing essential primary school infrastructure in underserved cocoa-growing communities.
Peter Mac Manu, Chairman of COCOBOD, explained that the Free SHS initiative has rendered the scholarship scheme redundant.
“With the introduction of the Free SHS by the Akufo-Addo administration, it’s time for us to adapt and evolve. The COCOBOD Scholarship Scheme, while a valuable program, has naturally lost its core purpose,” he stated.
The COCOBOD Scholarship Scheme had been a significant support system for students from cocoa-farming communities, offering financial assistance for their education.
However, with the Free SHS initiative covering secondary education costs, COCOBOD decided to redirect its resources towards improving primary education infrastructure.
The newly established Cocoa Board Education Trust aims to create model basic schools in cocoa-growing areas. According to Mac Manu, this initiative underscores COCOBOD’s commitment to the welfare and development of cocoa farmers and their families.
“As we bid farewell to the Scholarship Scheme, we must look forward and prioritize the continued educational advancement of the cocoa farming community. The establishment of the Ghana Cocoa Board Education Trust reflects our dedication to the prosperity and well-being of cocoa farmers and their children. The primary goal of the Education Trust is to provide essential primary school infrastructure in underserved cocoa-growing areas,” Mac Manu emphasized.
This strategic shift in focus is intended to ensure that children in cocoa-farming communities receive a solid educational foundation, thereby supporting the long-term development and sustainability of these communities.
