The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has moved to clarify misconceptions surrounding the recent inauguration of the COCOBOD Education Trust.
The Trust, launched on May 20, 2024, aims to utilize funds previously allocated to the Cocoa Scholarship Scheme to support education in cocoa-growing communities.
According to COCOBOD, the Trust is not a replacement for the Scholarship Scheme, which was established to support wards of cocoa farmers to pursue secondary education. Instead, it is a new initiative that seeks to provide resources and infrastructure for basic schools in cocoa-growing communities, bridging the infrastructure gap between schools in deprived areas and those in urban centers.
COCOBOD understands that there are concerns among the public, with some perceiving the new system as a failure or collapse of the Scholarship Scheme, which has supported the education of many prominent Ghanaians for over 70 years. However, the Board assures the public that its commitment to supporting education in Ghana remains unwavering.
The COCOBOD Education Trust is a strategic initiative to build on the successes of the past while introducing innovative methods to meet the evolving needs of beneficiaries. It is not a termination of the Board’s educational support programs but rather a diversification to better serve evolving educational needs in rural communities.
The Trust will provide essential facilities such as classrooms, libraries, teachers’ bungalows, and ensure a conducive learning environment for children. COCOBOD is confident that the Trust will make a positive impact in the lives of many and is committed to supporting education in Ghana.
