New Patriotic Party Upper East Regional Secretary, Daniel Ayine, has urged Members of Parliament from the Upper East region to sponsor needy students to pursue medical training and return to serve their constituencies.
Speaking on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East programme, Mr. Ayine said MPs could help address the shortage of medical professionals in the region by identifying needy students, supporting them through medical school and bonding them to return and work in their communities after graduation.
He said such an approach would provide greater long-term benefits to communities than giving students small amounts of money as educational assistance.
“Scholarship is identifying a needy person, putting the person in the right place, knowing very well that the person is coming back to serve his people,” he said.
Mr. Ayine said some medical professionals posted to the Upper East Region leave because of challenges associated with working and living in the area.
He therefore questioned why MPs could not deliberately support students from their constituencies to become medical doctors, with an arrangement requiring them to return and serve their communities.
According to him, such a scholarship programme could help the region develop its own pool of medical professionals while addressing challenges associated with retaining doctors.
Mr. Ayine also criticised what he described as the current approach to parliamentary scholarships, where needy students apply for financial assistance. He said amounts ranging from GH¢500 to GH¢1,000 should not be presented as scholarships capable of addressing the broader educational needs of beneficiaries.
He argued that genuine scholarship support should identify students with both academic potential and financial need and provide meaningful assistance throughout their education.
Mr. Ayine said MPs should therefore view scholarships as a long-term investment in human capital rather than short-term financial assistance.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz| Simon Ayamdoo | Bolgatanga
