Koforidua, June 27, GNA - The Eastern Region Chapter of the Ghana Muslim Education Fund (GMEF) launched last year has realised over 100 million cedis.

About 32 million cedis out of the amount is being spent on scholarships for 11 beneficiaries from the New Juaben Municipality pursuing tertiary education at the universities, polytechnics and Teacher Training Colleges.

Alhaji Ismael Abdul-Karim, National Chairman of the Fund, announced this at its first anniversary celebration at Koforidua last Saturday. He was optimistic that the beneficiaries of the scholarships would be increased to 100 this year within all the 17 districts in the Eastern Region.

"When Muslims embrace the rational behind the Fund, register and pay their monthly contribution of 2,000 cedis it would improve the socio-economic conditions of Ghanaian Muslims in future," He added. Alhaji Abdul-Karim said plans were underway to establish the Fund in other parts of the country and the Ashanti Regional Chapter would be launched soon.

Mallam Apaw Wiredu, Administrator of the Fund, assured contributors that absolute fairness would be ensured in the distribution of the scholarship to qualified beneficiaries. Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama launched the Fund at Koforidua.