Jirapa (UW/R), June 6, GNA - Mr P. A. M. Banahene, Administrator of the Ghana Education Trust Fund, at the weekend launched a scholarship fund for needy students at the St. Francis of Assisi Girls Secondary School, with an initial amount of 16.5 million cedis.

He also inspected a rehabilitated library complex that was gutted by fire, a three-storey hostel, kitchen, and dining hall projects under construction.

Mr Banahene gave the assurance that, sufficient funds would be released to facilitate the completion of the projects to facilitate the admission of more students.

The GETFund Administrator said the fund would provide the school with a clinic.

He appealed to the striking members of the National Association of Graduate Teachers to return to the classroom, while still negotiating for better service conditions.

Mr George Hikah Benson, Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, called on the school authorities to abide by the laid down principles for the disbursement of the fund in order to ensure that only needy students benefit from the scholarship.

He advised the students not to engage in examination malpractices that had the potential of ruining their future. Mr Benson advised them against pre-marital sex, since that could expose them to teenage pregnancy, early marriages and HIV/AIDS infections.

Mrs Winifred Dy-Yakah, Acting Jirapa/Lambussie District Chief Executive, called on the students to justify the huge investments government was making to promote their educational pursuit by studying hard.

Mr Banahene later presented Pick-up valued at 220 million cedis to the Headmaster of Daffiama Senior Secondary School. The Headmaster, Mr George Angingeregeng, who received the keys, thanked GETFund for the donation and appealed to public-spirited organisations to assist the school with a science laboratory, computers, staff and student accommodation.