The Volta River Authority under its Community Development Programme (CDP) Education Scheme, has awarded scholarships to 61 students from communities within the Authority’s catchment area to study Sciences in various universities across the country.
This seventh edition scholarship package worth GH₵800,000 will cover the payment of tuition and accommodation fees for this academic year.
Chief Executive Officer Ing. Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa, speaking at a ceremony to present the 61 beneficiaries with their prize in Akosombo, indicated that the CPD scholarship scheme came in place during the authority’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2011, during which 50 brilliant but needy students were supported in both second cycle and tertiary institutions.
“In 2011, 50 students benefitted as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the VRA. From then to now, 329 students from Akosombo, Akuse, Kpone and Aboadze areas were sponsored.
“Today, these 61 students of different levels in various public educational institutions in the country, who are offering varied courses from the Sciences to the Humanities would be awarded scholarships at a value of GH₵800,000, covering the payment of their tuition and hostel fees,” he said.
“Our objective is to support human resource development in our operational areas, who would contribute to the sustainability and developmental programmes in their communities, and in the long run, produce fit-for-purpose individuals for the future of the authority,” he said.
Adding to that, he indicated that in 2021, 15 of the beneficiaries graduated from various universities with three of them graduating as the overall best students of their class, while about 99 percent also graduated with first and second-class honours respectively.
Representing the Paramount Chief of the Akosombo Traditional Area, Nana Ansah Kwao IV said: “Investing in education is building human resources and building human resources in every country is a very important foundation for doing great things and developing a country, and for this we commend VRA. The authority’s decision to support brilliant but needy students in our communities is a very critical intervention in this difficult time of economic hardship, and so I will like to say a big thank you to VRA”.
On his part, the District Chief Executive of Asuogyaman District Assembly – Samuel Kweku Agyekum, indicated that the initiative will ensure the acquisition of inclusive and equitable education for all in the district and ultimately help the country to attain Sustainable Development Goal four (SDG-4).
“The Asuogyaman District Assembly will continue to collaborate with the VRA to expand and deepen the impact of this scholarship scheme to benefit every brilliant but needy child,” he said.
Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Adutwum, in an address read on his behalf, commended VRA for the support it has provided the education sector over the past 60 years – from scholarships opportunities to classroom infrastructure, among others.
“Government is very much aware of the important role education plays in human resource development and nation-building, and is therefore retooling the whole education system including TVET and technical universities, to meet the fourth industrial revolution requirements,” he said.
He added that the Ministry of Education is undertaking cutting-edge policies to achieve its objective of a 40:60 percent ratio in Sciences education and Social Humanities at the Senior High School level.
