Lebanese community awards scholarships to 16 tertiary students

The Lebanese Community in Ghana has taken its educational program a notch higher by awarding 16 students from various tertiary institutions in the country.

Unlike the Community’s previous award scheme, this year’s benefitted tertiary students from deprived areas, particularly from the Central and the Northern regions.

The beneficiaries from the various universities, polytechnics and training schools included Emmanuel Kwaku Armah Junior (University of Professional Studies), Priscilla Larbie (University of Education, Winneba), Adwoa Larbea Armah(University of Ghana), Samuel Ponku Tetteh( Cape Coast University), Kwashie Abbey Armah (KNUST).

Others are Fredrick Asante(University of Ghana), Godwin Mensah Agyeman(University of Cape Coast), Isaah Waaki(University of Cape Coast), Emmanuel Tagoe(Koforidua Polytechnic), Mawuwey Elizabeth(Bolgantanga Nurses Training College) and Tankeh Garvin Akwolaga (University of Ghana, UG).

The rest are Joyce Bazania Chirabura(University of Mines and Technology), Awe Basido Douglas(Regional Maritime University), Rahimatu Alhassan(University of Development Studies, UDS), Banabas Ave Abadu (UDS) and Adjei-Mensah Portia(UG).

Lebanese Ambassador to Ghana Mr Ali Halabi pointed out that the gesture forms part of the Lebanese Community’s quest to support the education system in Ghana.

“Our objective of supporting education in the country would not be complete if we don’t reach out to the deprived communities like we have done today-awarding 16 needy students from the various tertiary institutions.”

He added: “The community is very grateful to Ghana and its people who received the Lebanese migrants and gave them opportunity to participate in the development of the country.

“All the Lebanese donors in this fund have their own Social Fund at the levels of their companies and some of them created foundations in their companies to give scholarships and to do other social activities.”

Emmanuel Armah, one of the recipients of the awards said “We have heard the good works the Lebanese Community is doing to help education in the country. I didn’t know a time like this will come for me to benefit from such a scheme, this is purely on merit, and I want to commend them for this gesture. It will encourage me to go the extra mile in my studies.”

Interior Minister Mark Woyongo said 'I want to commend the Lebanese Communuty and the Ambassador for this initiative. Indeed, this is a significant contribution to the development of education in Ghana.'

Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister Hanah Tetteh in like manner commended the Lebanese Community in Ghana for the support saying 'The scholarships are tools which will help these students realise their full potentials.The Lebanese Community did not have the compulsion to do this, and I think the best you can do is to study harder show yourself worthy of that.Thank you for the initiative it goes to show the already healthy ties between Ghana and the Lebanese Community.

So far, the Lebanese Community has awarded scholarships to more than hundred students in institutions like University of Ghana, Ghana Institute of Journalism(GIJ), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and to the dependents of the martyrs of the Ghanaian Army.

Hon Dr Stanislaus Kadingdi, Municipal Chief Executive of Kassena Nankana Municipal Assembly in Navrongo and Sampson Abbey Ahmah the DCE of Awutu Senya graced the event.