The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has announced the termination of its long-standing scholarship scheme, attributing this decision to the implementation of the government's Free Senior High School (SHS) initiative.

In place of the scholarship program, COCOBOD has launched the Cocoa Board Education Trust, which focuses on providing essential primary school infrastructure in underserved cocoa-growing communities.

The chairman of the board, Peter Mac Manu, explained that the Free SHS initiative has significantly impacted the relevance of the scholarship scheme. “As we bid farewell to the Scholarship Scheme, we must look forward and prioritise the continued educational advancement of the cocoa farming community. It’s with this vision that the board of directors has decided to establish the Ghana Cocoa Board Education Trust.

The COCOBOD Scholarship Scheme had been providing financial support to students from cocoa-farming communities for many years.

However, with the introduction of Free SHS, the board has chosen to redirect its resources to address the need for primary school infrastructure in underserved areas.

The newly inaugurated Cocoa Board Education Trust aims to establish model basic schools in cocoa-growing communities.

According to Peter Mac Manu, this initiative underscores the board’s commitment to the prosperity and well-being of cocoa farmers and their children.