Regional News of Saturday, 8 November 2014

Source: GNA

Lebanese Embassy provides financial Aid to students

Mr Ali Halabi, Ambassador of Lebanon, has presented a cheque for 18,972.00 Ghana cedis to the University of Ghana to sponsor 11 students pursuing undergraduate degrees in the law faculty in Accra

Mr Halabi said the Lebanese Community last year granted scholarships to 22 Ghanaian students in three universities and 13 for the dependents of Ghanaian soldiers who died on peace keeping missions in Lebanon.

He said the number doubled this year from 35 to 70 scholarships to cover 100 per cent of the University fees, accommodation fees and some others.

Mr Halabi said apart from scholarships, the Lebanese Community would contribute to other projects with the Ministry of Education and universities.

Mr Halabi said the selection was based on performance, adding that the Lebanese Community saw in the students the future of Ghana.

Prof Ernest Aryeetey, Vice Chancellor who received the cheque, said many of the students needed help but the University was not able to assist and thanked the Lebanese Embassy and the Community for the donation.

He expressed the hope that the two countries would build on the relations and even do more for the law students.

Prof Kofi Quarshigah, the Dean of the Law Faculty, said the beneficiary students were selected from levels 200 and 300 based on the examination they took, adding only a thin line differentiated between those picked from those not picked.

He appealed to the beneficiary students to come out with first class as they had the opportunity to raise high the image of the University and urged them not o be complacent.

Ms Maureen Bansah, a beneficiary student, said the scheme commenced in 2013 for the benefit of students based on performance and expressed gratitude to the Embassy for the sponsorship.