RNAQ Foundation, Ga Mantse award scholarships to 115 Ga-Dangme students

The RNAQ Foundation, in partnership with the Ga Mantse, King Nii Teiko Tsuru II, has awarded scholarships to 115 deserving Ga-Dangme students to support their education and ease the financial burden on their families. The scholarship presentation ceremony, held at the Ga Mantse Palace on Monday, November 2, marked the launch of the first cohort of beneficiaries under the RNAQ and Ga-Dangme Scholarship Support Fund, an initiative spearheaded by RNAQ Holdings President, Richard Nii Armah Quaye. The initiative aims to ensure that financial difficulties do not prevent young people from pursuing higher education and achieving their academic ambitions. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Armah Quaye urged the beneficiaries to continue studying hard to maintain their eligibility for support. He said the door remained open to applicants who did not qualify, encouraging them to work hard and attain the required grades to become eligible for the scholarship. For those who received the support, he said that upon completing their studies, they would be given special consideration for employment opportunities within RNAQ companies. He added that beneficiaries who wished to venture into entrepreneurship after completing their education could also receive investment from RNAQ Capital, provided they presented brilliant and viable business ideas. The Lead of the RNAQ Foundation, Emmanuel Lamptey, said the response to the scholarship programme had been encouraging, with 1,689 applications received from students across 100 institutions. He explained that applications came from several tertiary institutions, including Accra Technical University, the University of Cape Coast, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the University of Ghana. According to him, the programme received its highest number of applications on September 18, when 291 students submitted their applications in a single day. Following the selection process, 115 students from 23 institutions were chosen for the first batch of scholarships. Mr Lamptey disclosed that 64.3 per cent of the successful applicants had attained First Class academic standing, while the remaining 35.7 per cent had Second Class Upper grades. He said that the beneficiaries were at different stages of their academic journeys, with some beginning their first year and others approaching graduation. Congratulating the successful applicants, he encouraged them to take their studies seriously and make good use of the opportunity. “This scholarship is an expression of belief in your ability, your potential and your future,” he said. He urged the students to remain focused, seek assistance whenever necessary and continue working towards their academic and career goals. “As our first cohort, you will help set the standard for those who follow. We hope that in time, you will also help create opportunities for others,” he added. Mr Lamptey also acknowledged the sacrifices made by parents and guardians, whose support, he said, had played an important role in helping the students reach this stage of their education. He expressed appreciation to the Ga Mantse, Mr Armah Quaye and all those who contributed to making the scholarship initiative possible. Speaking on behalf of the Ga Mantse, the Divisional Queen Mother of Lante Dzan We, Naa Lamiley Ajaaku Dromo II, encouraged the beneficiaries to recognise the importance of their achievement and the responsibility that came with it. She said the selection of the 115 students from more than 1,600 applicants was based on merit and urged them to remain confident in their abilities. “You did not get here by luck. You were measured, and you were found worthy. Stand tall in that knowledge,” she said. She also assured applicants who were unsuccessful that their efforts had not gone unnoticed. “To the many who were not selected this time, your fight is not over. You have not been forgotten. Your time will come,” she said. The Divisional Queen Mother reminded the students of the Ga-Dangme community’s long history of academic achievement and contributions to education, journalism, medicine, law and public service. According to her, these historical achievements demonstrate that excellence and the pursuit of education have always been part of the Ga-Dangme identity. She challenged the scholarship recipients to build on that legacy and contribute meaningfully to their communities. “Somewhere along the way, we lost our grip on it, but hear me clearly. You are the foundation. You are not just receiving a scholarship,” she said. “Every great building starts underground with stones nobody sees, and those stones carry everything above them.” Naa Dromo II urged the beneficiaries to see themselves as the foundation for a stronger and more progressive Ga-Dangme community. Speaking after receiving the scholarship, some recipients expressed excitement and gratitude to the RNAQ Foundation, Mr Armah Quaye and the Ga Mantse for the support. One of the beneficiaries, a Level 200 Public Relations student at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), described the scholarship as a timely opportunity that would help ease the financial challenges associated with pursuing higher education. “I’m very excited, and I’m so grateful to God for having been given this opportunity to be part of this first cohort of the RNAQ Scholarship Fund,” the student said. The beneficiary praised the thinking behind the initiative, particularly its recognition that financial difficulties should not prevent students from accessing education. The student added that the scholarship would provide an opportunity for beneficiaries to concentrate on their studies and make the most of their academic potential. Another beneficiary, Victoria, a final-year Cybersecurity student at Accra Technical University, also expressed appreciation to the organisers. She said she had applied for the scholarship without being certain she would be selected and was therefore pleasantly surprised when she received the news. “It’s a lot. I need to say thank you to them and their sponsors, Richard Nii Armah Quaye and the Ga Mantse as well. I’m thanking them for this initiative to help Ga-Dangme students,” she said.