Dormaa Ahenkro (B/A), Dec. 31, GNA - Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, Dormaahene on Tuesday presented scholarship packages worth 10,000 Ghana Cedis from the Dormaaman Education Endowment Fund to 70 selected tertiary and senior high school students in the area. Forty-four of the beneficiaries are in technical, vocational and senior high schools whiles 26 are in polytechnics, universities and teacher training colleges.

The Omanhene presented the packages at this year's annual get together organised by the traditional council for chiefs, heads of department, religious and opinion leaders at Dormaa Ahenkro. Osagyefo Agyeman Badu, who is president of the council, explained that the council deemed it important to organize the annual event in order to take stock of the passing year, strategies for the ensuing year and foster unity and understanding among the people. He announced that the council was ready to give out land freely to any small or medium scale entrepreneur who could employ 20 or more people to help reduce unemployment in the area. The Omanhene called on the people to forge ahead with unity of purpose, consensus- building and diligence in order to make 2009 a memorable year.

Osagyefo Agyeman Badu appealed to Ghanaians to once again demonstrate patriotism by rallying behind the eventual winner of the stalled presidential run off in order to reap the benefits of western democracy for the rapid socio-economic advancement of the country. The traditional leader urged the student beneficiaries to study hard to produce justifiable results.

He assured the people of the Fund's readiness to support deserving students to lift up the image of formal education in the area. Barima Oppong Yaw Buabasa Ababio, Gyaasehene of the Council, commended political, religious and opinion leaders in the area for co-operating with the council and helping to make the year 2008 peaceful and memorable.

He said the council was committed to ensuring that all persons were treated with fairness and equity in line with national and international demands for human rights. Highlights of the function included solidarity messages from heads of departments, the youth and women who lauded the matured manner in which the council had managed the traditional area. 31 Dec. 08