Dr. Esmond Agurgo Balfour, the Regional Chairman of BONABOTO in the Upper East Region, has emphasized the organization’s commitment to supporting students through its scholarship programs, particularly before the introduction of the Free Senior High School (SHS) initiative.
Speaking on A1 Radio recently, Dr. Balfour noted that thousands of individuals have benefited from the program over the years. Despite its considerable impact, he expressed frustration over the lack of follow-up from some former beneficiaries. Many, he explained, have either traveled abroad or remain in the country without making any effort to give back to the fund that supported their educational journey.
“This program has made a significant impact. In fact, we have even lost track of some who have graduated and are now living abroad, as well as others within the country,” he said.
The regional chairman explained that BONABOTO’s tertiary scholarship program operates like a grant. It provides financial assistance to help students complete their studies, with the expectation that beneficiaries will repay the fund once they secure employment. However, he lamented that some graduates fail to contribute to the fund, making it difficult to sustain the program in the long term.
“I have always said that gratitude is not easy to come by. You would have hoped that those who benefited from the BONABOTO Education Assistance Fund would now be the ones most eager to contribute, enabling others in need to benefit as they once did. But you don’t even hear from many of them,” he remarked.
To ensure the initiative’s sustainability, Dr. Balfour stressed the importance of ongoing support from BONABOTO members and other well-meaning individuals who contribute to the fund. Without these contributions, he acknowledged, the organization’s capacity to continue supporting students would face significant challenges.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Gifty Eyram Kudiabor|Bolgatanga
