Wassa Akropong (W/R), July 15, GNA - Mr Samuel Alberto Tekyi, District Chief Executive for Amenfi West, on Thursday called on chiefs to use their influence to support Unit Committees and Assembly members to undertake development projects in their communities.

He made the call when the Kasapreko Education Fund presented scholarship awards to 40 needy students in some senior secondary schools in the district at Wassa-Akropong.

The ceremony coincided with a meeting of the Wassa Amenfi Traditional Council.

Mr Tekyi said the area would register accelerated development, if there were cooperation and coordination of the efforts of the traditional rulers, the various Unit Committees and Assembly Members. He expressed regrets that some Unit Committees were not functioning, as they should, because of un-cooperative attitude of some Chiefs and Unit Committee members.

The DCE said the government recognises the importance of the Chieftaincy institution in the socio-economic development of the country and would give the institution the needed assistance to perform its noble role and urged chiefs to reciprocate the government's gesture by uniting to support its development programmes. He advised the beneficiary students to study hard to gain admission into tertiary institutions and on completion return to help in the area's development.

Miss Doris Gyapoma Oduro, Amenfi East District Chief Executive. who is the Executive Secretary of the Fund, said the Kasapreko Education Fund would follow the progress of studies of the beneficiaries. She said those, who fail to deliver would have their scholarships withdrawn and given to other students on the waiting list. Miss Oduro said 250 students applied for scholarships in the 2004/2005 academic year but only 50 were approved.

She said the Fund was able to award scholarships to only 40 students because of constraints, adding that, more scholarships would be awarded to students when the financial position of the Fund improves. Miss Oduro said the Fund would in the near future offer more scholarships to students from less endowed schools and also set aside funds to promote girl-child education.

Dr Dominic Kweku Blay, Executive Chairman of the Fund, said the Fund is the brainchild of Kasapreko Kwame Bassanyin III, Omanhene of Wassa Amenfi Traditional Area.

He said so far, the Fund, which was inaugurated in March 2002, has awarded scholarships to 95 students from various senior secondary schools.

Dr Blay said the Fund intends to extend assistance to Wassa Amenfi students in the various universities and other tertiary institutions in the country.

He thanked Samartex Limited and Awim Limited, both timber companies, for their support to the Fund.

Kasapreko Bassanyin asked beneficiaries of scholarships of the Fund to make the best use of them. 15 July, 05