Available statistics indicate that there has been a huge deficit in government's support for tertiary institutions for years now, resulting in about 40 percent of Ghanaians lacking the financial muscle to further their education.

As a way of augmenting government's efforts in ensuring that brilliant students are given the opportunity to pursue their dream and become responsible citizens, leadership of The Maker’s House Chapel International has officially launched an educational scholarship fund.

The scholarship secretariat, named “TeamEdu”, is the education wing of the chapel aimed at assisting underprivileged students to further their studies at the tertiary level.

The fund was inaugurated on Sunday, August 21 at the Maker's House Chapel, located at Point 1 off the Kwabenya road.

Speaking to Peacefmonline.com, Head of the Scholarship Committee, Mrs. Joana Adwoa Opare said the percentage of financially-constrained but brilliant students is not encouraging, hence the fund will serve as a major incentive to the less privileged.

“Statistics from the Tertiary Education Council indicates that, from 2001 to 2005; there has been inadequate financial support from government for tertiary institutions. 4 out of 10 representing 40 percent is the deficit…It is therefore significant for people to help the government” to secure the future of the youth," she stated.

Mrs Opare, who heads the Education Department of The Maker’s House Chapel International, has twenty-five (25) years’ experience in development work; thirteen (13) of which are exclusively in Gender, Development and Peace-building. She also worked as the National Programme Manager for the UN System programme for Promoting Gender Equality in Ghana for 5 years.

Asked what procedures have been laid down by the church before a student can be a beneficiary of the TeamEdu scholarship, she outlined the criteria to be met as follows.

"Applicants must have completed Senior High School and gained admission into any of the public tertiary institutions as well as prove that they are from a deprived background....Successful candidates, who must first be staunch members of the church, shall be offered full scholarship package throughout the duration of their chosen courses....the team will assess the results slip of the student, verify his or her certificate and meet up with their families before he or she will be awarded a scholarship," she disclosed.

Mrs. Adwoa Opare further indicated that the student will also be interviewed by a panel set up by the Committee to authenticate his or her claims.

On his part, the General Overseer of the Maker's House Chapel International, Dr. Michael Boadi Nyamekye pointed out that no nation can develop without education, hence the decision by the leadership of the church to take up that responsibility.

Whiles appealing to the general public to contribute their quota to help sustain the fund, the renowned Man of God told Peacefmonline.com that as a family, the leadership of the church was inspired to come up "with the scholarship education fund to push such [needy] persons to achieve their academic dreams”.

The Maker's House Chapel International is located at Point 1 off the Kwabenya road in the Ga East Municipality Accra and describes itself as "...the voice and the hand that encourages people to change their lives with hope, comfort and peace".

The vision of the TMHCI is "To drive towards Church excellence whilst ushering people into destiny fulfillment and preparing them for heaven."