Josiah
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has announced the termination of its long-standing scholarship program, attributing this decision to the government’s Free Senior High School (SHS) initiative.
In place of the scholarship program, COCOBOD has introduced the Cocoa Board Education Trust, which aims to provide essential school supplies to underserved cocoa-growing regions.
Board Chairman, Mr. Peter Mac Manu, elaborated on the rationale behind this shift.
“With the advent of the Free SHS by the Akufo-Addo administration, it’s time for us to adapt and evolve. The COCOBOD Scholarship Scheme, while a notable and valuable program, has naturally lost its core purpose,” he explained.
For many years, students from cocoa-growing areas benefited significantly from the COCOBOD Scholarship Scheme. However, following the implementation of the Free SHS program, the board decided to redirect its funds towards developing model elementary schools in these regions.
The newly established Cocoa Board Education Trust underscores the board’s commitment to the welfare of cocoa farmers and their children.
“As we bid farewell to the Scholarship Scheme, we must look forward and prioritize the continued educational advancement of the cocoa farming community. It is with this vision that the board of directors has decided to establish the Ghana Cocoa Board Education Trust.”
“This trust is a testament to our unwavering commitment to the prosperity and well-being of cocoa farmers and their children. The primary objective of the Education Trust is to focus on providing essential primary school infrastructure in underserved cocoa-growing areas,” he stated.
