The Akatsi District Assembly has spent more than 100 million cedis in sponsoring 155 students under the first and second phases of its students sponsorship programme.

The beneficiaries were made up of 62 second-cycle school students, 72 teacher trainees and 21 polytechnic and university students.

Mr Nicholas Negble, the District Chief Executive, said this when he addressed the first ordinary meeting of the assembly on Monday.

He said 40 newly qualified teachers sponsored by the Assembly would begin their service in the district after completing their training in June.

A fresh medical student at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has also applied to the Assembly for support at a cost of 36 million cedis covering his seven years of medical training.

Mr Negble said 88 other applications had been received for sponsorship during the 2002/2003 academic years.

He said the 88 applicants whose sponsorship would cost the Assembly 44 million cedis were made up of 43 teacher trainees and 45 second-cycle students.

He suggested to the House to approve the sponsorships this year because "we are reliably informed that the rate of teachers deserting post in the district requires more replacement to offset any future crisis."

Regarding the sponsorship of the medical student, Mr Negble said "considering the situation of a non-resident doctor at the Akatsi Health Centre it has become imperative for the Assembly to consider this student for sponsorship..."

He said should the beneficiary breach the agreement to serve the district after his training he should be made to refund the amount with interest at the prevailing bank rate.