The Lebanese Community in collaboration with the Lebanon Embassy has once again presented scholarships to 21 Ghanaian student at a ceremony at the Embassy in Accra.
Lebanon Ambassador to Ghana HE H. Ali Halabi revealed that the awards was distributed to students across the country based purely on merit.
He said “I am particularly happy each time we gather like this. It is not only proof of our commitment to supporting the Ghanaian child, it is also a form of encouragement to members of the Lebanese community to continue doing what we do.”
He said at the well-organized ceremony that “Nothing beats the fulfilment that comes from knowing that your quota has pushed another person to attain greater heights and for us, that is the essence of life.
“Let me use this opportunity to thank Madam Hannah Tetteh and the Honourable Mark Woyongo for their immeasurable support since I arrived in Ghana and for ensuring that deserving students benefit from the scholarship scheme.”
He added that the scholarship was awarded on a yearly basis and I am happy to note that majority of the students seated here today were part of the scheme last year.
The beneficiaries were drawn from various tertiary, senior high and basic schools across the country.
In all, there are seventeen tertiary students and four students are the lower levels. We are hoping to increase the number in the coming years.
It is also worthy to note that apart from this particular batch of beneficiaries, the Lebanese community has over the last three years, awarded educational scholarships to wards of deceased security officers, Journalism students at Ghana Institute of Journalism as well as law students at University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology respectively.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Hannah Tetteh told the benefactors that, “I hope you will not take this scholarship for granted, if you have the opportunity to help others in future, remember that somebody someday helped you, so do same for others.
“I congratulate the Lebanese Community for making education accessible to underprivileged students in the country.”
In like manner, Minister of State Hon Mark Woyongo challenged the students to take their studies seriously saying, “Education is key to every country’s development and we hope that other nationals in the country will follow the Lebanese Community shinning example.”
Emmanuel Armah, one of the beneficiaries thanked the Lebanese Community for the gesture saying, “On behalf of my colleagues I will like to take this opportunity to place on record our hearty thanks to His Excellency Mr Halabi Ali the Lebanese Ambassador to Ghana and the Lebanese community for the perfect logistic support and guidance in education they have extended to all of us here and those who have completed at this occasion.”