The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has clarified what it describes as misconceptions regarding the recent inauguration of the COCOBOD Education Trust.
On Monday, May 20, 2024, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Peter Mac Manu, inaugurated a five-member Board of Trustees for the newly established COCOBOD Education Trust. This new Trust is designed to utilize funds previously allocated to the Cocoa Scholarship Scheme, which has evolved in relevance following the introduction of the free Senior High School (SHS) policy in 2017.
The Cocoa Scholarship Scheme was initially established to support the children of cocoa farmers in pursuing secondary education. However, with the introduction of the free SHS policy, the scheme has become less necessary. The COCOBOD Education Trust is a new initiative that will use the funds formerly allocated to the scholarship scheme to support education in alternative ways.
Following the launch of the Education Trust, some well-meaning Ghanaians have perceived it as a failure or collapse of the Scholarship Scheme, which has supported the education of many prominent Ghanaians for more than 70 years.
In a press release, however, COCOBOD assured the public that its commitment to supporting education in Ghana remains unwavering. The statement added that the COCOBOD Education Trust represents a new chapter in their efforts to support the education of the children of cocoa farmers and is expected to positively impact many lives.
“We assure the public that our commitment to supporting education in Ghana remains unwavering. The COCOBOD Education Trust is a new chapter in our efforts to support the education of wards of cocoa farmers, and we are confident that it will make a positive impact in the lives of many.”
“The COCOBOD Education Trust is therefore not a termination of the Board’s educational support programmes, but to diversify to better serve evolving educational needs in rural communities, including the provision of essential facilities such as classrooms, libraries, teachers bungalows, among others, and ensuring a conducive learning environment for children.”
“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 our beneficiaries.”
