Over 200 tertiary students, including freshmen and continuing students from various institutions across the country, have received financial assistance from the Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman, Thomas Ampem Nyarko.
As part of his commitment to supporting parents and needy but brilliant students in his constituency, the MP disbursed a GHC300,000 cheque to help Level 200 students pay their fees. This initiative aims to ease the financial burden faced by families at the start of each academic year.
Hundreds of applications were received through the MP’s fee-paying support programme. This year, four students were selected from each of the 37 Electoral Areas in the constituency to ensure fairness and equitable distribution of the support.
The beneficiaries include students pursuing programs such as Law, Nursing, Engineering, and Medicine, who were struggling to pay their fees and hostel bills.
Despite challenges in accessing his share of the assembly’s common fund, allegedly withheld by the former DCE for Asuogyaman, Mavis Opokua Akunnor, the MP ensured the timely delivery of the funds.
Speaking at the disbursement ceremony at the Asuogyaman District Assembly, Thomas Ampem Nyarko highlighted plans to expand the initiative with support from private companies and hotels that have shown interest in contributing to this cause.
He emphasized the importance of ensuring more Senior High School graduates transition into tertiary education to pursue professional careers.
“This intervention will be expanded in the coming months, thanks to positive feedback and pledges from stakeholders. Together, we can make tertiary education accessible to more students,” the MP stated.
“All I want from you beneficiaries is to not let us down, your parents, families and the constituency down. Going forward, this will be in merit because we need to see evidence of good results. Some people are equally brilliant but didn’t get access to these funds, especially the continuing students you will need to add your transcripts to your applications next time for us to know that you are learning and making progress”.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to Channel One News expressed appreciation to Thomas Ampem Nyarko for his intervention.
“Tertiary education has become very expensive in the country so getting part payment of our fees will go a long way to augment the efforts of our parents. We are indeed grateful to our MP Hon. Thomas Ampem Nyarko for always coming in to support us”, Azi Salvation a beneficiary remarked.
Thomas Ampem Nyarko condemned the former District Chief Executive for Asuogyaman Mavis Opokua Akunnor for blocking the initiative last year after refusing to sign a cheque issued by the MP to access funds from the MP shares of the common fund to support payment of fees of some needy tertiary students.
Thomas Ampem Nyarko indicated that the NDC’s free tuition policy for first-year Tertiary students is a step to ensure many students after SHS enrol in tertiary education and that the policy will help him channel his support to continuing students in his Constituency.
