Norwegian oil and gas company Aker Energy has announced plans to increase the number of beneficiaries for its scholarship package for JHS graduates who are entering SHS from 150 to 200 this year.
Aker Energy’s scholars programme, which is in partnership with GNPC, was introduced in 2012 and it is presently the flagship social investment project of the company.
So far, about 721 students have been selected from 10 coastal communities in the western part of the West African country.
The programme started with six partner secondary schools, but, presently, has 10 partner SHSs and a nursing and vocational schools where beneficiaries are placed.
As a result of the free Senior High School policy being implemented by the government of the West African country, Ghana, Aker Energy’s scholarship package covers school materials such as trunk, chop box and books.
Other important elements of the scholarship package are counselling and mentoring, career seminars, frequent visits to check on beneficiaries’ well-being and their academic performance.
Speaking at the Aker Energy-GNPC Schorlars Programme Class of 2019 in Takoradi, in the Western part of the Republic of Ghana, Aker Energy’s External Relations Manager Officer Bernice Sam, said the selection of beneficiaries for this year’s scholarship programme is expected to commence as soon as the BECE results are released.
“Our preparations towards this exercise includes broad awareness raising activities in junior high schools and in communities so that students and parents alike have prior knowledge of the criteria, selection process and venues,” she said.
Scholars come from so many communities including Jomoro District-Bonyere, Allengenzule, New Nzulenzu, Ellembelle District-Anokye, Atuabo, Basake, Takinta, Teleku Bokazo Nzema East District-Axim, Nsein, Kegyina Ahanta West District-Akwidaa, Lower Dixcove, Gyabenkrom, STMA-Fijai, New Takoradi Ntankoful, Shama, Inchaban, Abuesi and Supomo Dunkwa
The event saw the celebration of Aker Energy’s Class of 2019 WASSCE graduands.
In all, 125 graduated and out of this number, 30 were from GSTS, 20 from Archbishop Porter School, 13 from Nkroful Agric School, six from Half Assini Sec. School, 51 from Nseim Secondary School while five will be graduating from nursing and vocational schools.
According to Mrs Bernice Sam, 40 outstanding scholars who had 5As were taken on a field trip to the University of Cape Coast and Takoradi Technical University to have a feel of the ‘campus’ and to interact with faculty.
She said Aker Energy is in the process of developing a tertiary level scholarship programme which “we expect to roll-out soon to be able to support SHS scholars who want to continue to the tertiary level.
About Aker Energy
Aker Energy is an upstream petroleum company operating the Deepwater Tano / Cape Three Points oil block that is located offshore Ghana.
The parties to the Deepwater Tano/Cape Three Points (DWT/CTP) Petroleum Agreement are Aker Energy Ghana Limited (50% interest), Lukoil Overseas Ghana Tano Limited (38% interest), Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (10% interest) and Fueltrade Limited (2%interest).
The mission of Aker Energy is building the oil and gas operator of choice offshore Ghana by maturing resources in a safe, efficient and reliable manner to the mutual benefit of company partners and the people of Ghana.
Source: energynewsafrica.com