COCOBOD ends scholarships due to Free SHS

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has announced the cessation of its longstanding scholarship initiative due to the introduction of the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme by the government.

In response to this shift, COCOBOD has established the Cocoa Board Education Trust, which aims to enhance primary school facilities in neglected cocoa-producing regions.

The Chairman of COCOBOD, Peter Mac Manu, explained that the termination of the scholarship scheme was a necessary adaptation to the new educational landscape created by the Free SHS initiative.

He remarked, “With the advent of the Free SHS by the Akufo-Addo administration, it’s time for us to adapt and evolve. Although the COCOBOD Scholarship Scheme has been recognized as valuable and significant, it has gradually deviated from its original purpose.”

For many years, the COCOBOD Scholarship Scheme provided crucial financial assistance to students from cocoa-producing communities, helping them pursue secondary education.

However, the implementation of the Free SHS initiative, which eliminates tuition fees and other educational costs for high school students, has rendered the scholarship scheme less critical.

As a result, COCOBOD has decided to reallocate its resources towards improving primary education infrastructure in underserved cocoa-growing areas.

The newly founded Cocoa Board Education Trust is central to this new direction. This trust is dedicated to establishing exemplary primary schools in cocoa-producing communities, ensuring that children in these regions receive a solid educational foundation.

Peter Mac Manu emphasized that this initiative underscores COCOBOD’s ongoing commitment to the welfare and prosperity of cocoa farmers and their families.

He stated, “As we bid farewell to the Scholarship Scheme, we must look forward and prioritize the continued educational advancement of the cocoa farming community. It’s with this vision that the board of directors has decided to establish the Ghana Cocoa Board Education Trust.”

The primary objective of the Education Trust is to provide essential primary school infrastructure in areas that have been historically underserved. This includes building new schools, upgrading existing facilities, and ensuring that these schools are well-equipped to offer quality education.

By focusing on primary education, the trust aims to lay a strong educational foundation for children in cocoa-growing regions, preparing them for future academic and professional success.

Peter Mac Manu highlighted that the creation of the Education Trust reflects COCOBOD’s steadfast dedication to supporting cocoa farmers and their children.

He noted, “This trust is a testament to our unwavering commitment to the prosperity and well-being of cocoa farmers and their children. By improving primary education infrastructure, we aim to create better opportunities for the next generation and contribute to the overall development of cocoa-producing communities.”

While the end of the COCOBOD Scholarship Scheme marks the end of an era, the establishment of the Cocoa Board Education Trust represents a forward-looking approach to educational support in Ghana’s cocoa-producing regions. This initiative ensures that the resources are used to provide significant benefits where they are most needed, fostering a brighter future for the children of cocoa farmers.