Plan gives scholarships to over 1,500 students in UWR

Plan Ghana, through its Plan Scholarship Scheme has so far granted educational scholarships to over 1,500 students including boys and girls from the Upper West Region to further their education and become responsible citizens in future.

Some of the beneficiaries have already completed the University and a lot more are still in the various tertiary institutions across the country.

Mr. Richard Boadu, Plan Ghana Programme Unit Manager for the Upper West Region disclosed this during the 75th Anniversary Celebration of Plan in Wa on Tuesday.

He said Plan had constructed and equipped 13 pre-schools and 12 primary and Junior High Schools (JHSs) in the region and also supported in the provision of library books, text books, as well as furniture to various schools in the Sissala East, Sissala West, Wa East and Wa West districts and Wa Municipal.

It has also given institutional support to the Ghana Education Service in areas such as the training of teachers, School Management Committees, monitoring and evaluation, as well as running of mock and performance monitoring test for children.

Currently, Plan is piloting a unique model of the School Feeding Programme at Pulima and Kupulima in the Sissala West District which is benefiting about 2,000 children.

On health, Mr. Boadu said Plan had constructed and furnished two CHPS Compounds, supported the rehabilitation of a female and children's ward at Tumu hospital and built the capacity of over 600 community health volunteers to support the primary health care system.

Additionally, professional health workers have also been trained in Integrated Management of Child Illnesses, while its support also went to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to ensure effective monitoring and supervision and also increase coverage on immunization.

Mr. Boadu said Plan had supported the registration of 600 needy families on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

He pleaded with political parties to ensure peace, especially in this election year to enable the children of Ghana enjoy their rights.

Mr. Cezar Kale, Deputy Upper West Regional Minister commended Plan Ghana for its continuing support for government in the area of development.

He said children were an important resource of the nation and that any effort to nurture and empower them to grow to become responsible citizens was welcome by government.

He lauded Plan’s effort to register about 75,000 births as part of activities marking the celebration of its 75th Anniversary celebration and advised children to respect their parents and stay away from drugs and illicit sex in order not to destroy their future.

Mr. Israel Akrobortu, Acting Regional Director of the Department of Children called on all to join hands in assisting the Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) to eradicate child labour, child trafficking, child migration as well as children on the streets to guarantee a better future for children in the region and the country as a whole.**