Takoradi Oct. 25, -GNA-The Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) on Wednesday presented scholarships to seven Senior Secondary School students at a ceremony at Takoradi.

Mr Marc Genot, Managing Director of GREL, who presented the scholarships, said the beneficiaries, including one girl were drawn from the company's catchment area in seven traditional areas in the Western Region.

The areas are the Lower Axim, Gwira, Lower Dixcove, Upper Dixcove, Wassa Fiase, Nsein and Ahanta Traditional areas, he said. Mr Genot said the company's scholarship scheme is being implemented in conjunction with the Association of Chiefs On Whose Land GREL Operates (ACLANGO).

He announced that the company would construct its second basic school at Nsuaem before the 2007/2008 academic year in addition to the existing one at Tsibu.

Mr Genot said the schools are to offer excellent education to broaden the educational opportunities for children in the company's catchment area.

Mr Joseph Garbrah, Human Resource and Administrative Manager of GREL, said the company's scholarships are offered to indigenes of the seven traditional areas in which the company operates who obtain high marks in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). He said beneficiaries should be boarding students in the Senior Secondary Schools who gained admission, because the scholarship covers bordering and lodging. Mr. Garbrah said this is to ensure that the beneficiaries concentrate on their studies to achieve the purpose for which the scholarship was awarded.

He said this was the second scholarship award after the first in 2005. Miss Rosemary Blay, Ahanta West District Director of Education, said the scholarship scheme is encouraging students and pupils to study hard. She said 14 students qualified for scholarships but seven were selected for awards and asked the management of GREL to increase the number of beneficiaries next year.

Miss Blay appealed to GREL to relocate and construct permanent buildings for its school at Tsibu because it is housed in structures meant for workers of the company and lacks library and other facilities. Awulae Agyefi Kwame, Omanhene of Nsein Traditional Area and the chairman of ACLANGO, said the scholarship scheme is a benefit people in the area are enjoying from GREL.

He said the people have not benefiting from the operation of GREL and even compensation has not been paid for lands released by chiefs for the operation of the company.