Takoradi, Sept. 30, GNA - As part of its social responsibility to improve human resource development, the Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL), has offered scholarships valued about 50 million cedis to seven students from its catchments area.

Each of the students including two girls was selected from one of the seven traditional areas namely Ahanta, Wassa-Fiase, Dwira, Lower Axim, Nsein and Upper and Lower Dixcove.

Mr Joseph Garbrah, Human Resource and Administrative Manager of GREL presented the scholarships to the beneficiary students at a ceremony in Takoradi on Thursday.

They would pursue course in different senior secondary and technical schools in the Western Region. He said the scholarships would cover fees, boarding and lodging and advised the students to take advantage of GREL's assistance to pursue higher education.

Mr Garbrah said the beneficiaries were selected on merit and the company would closely monitor their academic performance and those found to be performing poorly including those, who would fall into bad companies, would have their scholarships withdrawn.

He announced that, as from next year, GREL would concentrate on the provision of community projects to enhance the lives of the people. This year, GREL had so far spent 400 million cedis to support activities of chiefs in the traditional area, Mr Garbrah said and added that, a secretariat for the Association of Chiefs on whose Lands GREL Operates (ACLANGO) that was formed at Agona-Nkwanta, about a year ago, had almost been completed.

A multi-million cedis Town-hall project, initiated by GREL for the people of Kyekyewere would be completed in 2006, Mr Garbrah said. Awulae Agyefi Kwame II, chairman of ACLANGO and Omanhene of Nsein Traditional Area said chiefs and people of the seven traditional areas, who were disappointed for giving out their lands for the cultivation of rubber plantation now believe that their action was not in vein. He said President Nkrumah's vision that encouraged the release of large tracks of land for rubber production was gradually coming to pass and urged the government and GREL to adequately compensate the people for the offer.

Awulae Agyefi Kwame said the Association would help to ensure the sustenance of the scholarship scheme and appealed to GREL to increase its assistance, so that more students would benefit from the scheme. He appealed to chiefs and people of the area to cooperate with GREL to enhance its operations to benefit the people.

Alice Erzuah-Kakra, on behalf of beneficiaries, expressed her gratitude to GREL and ACLANGO for their support and said they would study hard to justify their selection.