Ogyeamansan Educational Fund launched at maiden Akwaaba Festival

The maiden edition of the Akwaaba Festival of the chiefs and people of Sunyani has officially kicked off with the launch of the Ogyeamansan Educational Fund, a visionary initiative by the Omanhene of Sunyani, Odeefour Ogyeamansan Boahen Korkor II, which aims at supporting brilliant but needy students within the Sunyani Traditional Area.

The launch of the Sunyani Education Fund marks a significant milestone in the quest to position Sunyani as a hub of academic excellence and professional development in the Bono Region and beyond.

Board of Trustees
A seven-member Board of Trustees of the Fund, under the chairmanship of Kofi Okofo Dartey, was inaugurated as part of the occasion.

Other members include Dr. Mrs. Vida Korang, Mrs. Elizabeth Sackey, Rev. Msgr. Joseph Marfo-Gyimah, Peter Voayah, Mr. Eric Owusu Sae and Nana Kwame Addae Kuntuma IV.

Transformative effort
Delivering a speech at the launch, the Vice-Chancellor of the Sunyani Technical University (STU), Ing. Prof. Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah, described the establishment of the fund as timely and transformative, noting that it reflects the long-standing commitment of the Sunyani Traditional Authority to education.

According to him, the launch of the Educational Fund during the Akwaaba Festival was symbolic, as the festival itself celebrates unity, cultural heritage and renewal. He explained that the coming together of traditional leaders, institutions and stakeholders provided the perfect platform to invest collectively in the future of the youth.

History
Prof. Adinkrah-Appiah traced Sunyani’s strong educational tradition to the foresight of past leaders, recalling how Nana Kwaku Baanie willingly released community land for the establishment of Sunyani Secondary School, now Sunyani Senior High School.

He noted that part of the same land later became Sunyani Technical Institute, now Sunyani Technical University, further demonstrating the community’s enduring belief in education as a tool for development.

He stressed that education remains the most powerful instrument for empowering individuals and transforming societies, adding that it equips young people with knowledge, skills, values and discipline for employment, leadership and responsible citizenship. He noted that education improves health outcomes, promotes innovation, reduces poverty and crime, fosters tolerance, and strengthens social cohesion.

Community Development
Touching on community development, the Vice-Chancellor said investment in education is the surest way to build human capital, break cycles of poverty and position the youth of Sunyani to compete effectively in the global, knowledge-driven economy and highlighted the need for skilled professionals such as engineers, technicians and artisans to take advantage of opportunities in Ghana’s mining sector and beyond.

Describing the Ogyeamansan Educational Fund as a source of hope, Prof. Adinkrah-Appiah said the fund would ensure continuity in education for needy but talented students and reinforce the shared responsibility of families, traditional authorities and institutions in grooming future leaders of the area.

He commended the Paramount Chief of Sunyani, Ogyeamansan Boahen Korkor II, the traditional council, the planning committee and contributors for their dedication in bringing the initiative to fruition.

Generous support needed
He also appealed to individuals, corporate bodies, natives of Sunyani at home and in the diaspora to support the fund generously to ensure that no child is denied education due to financial constraints.

Reaffirming STU’s commitment to the development of the community, Prof. Adinkrah-Appiah announced that the university would partner the Fund through mentorship, skills development and scholarship opportunities. On behalf of the University Council and Management, he pledged an initial donation of GHC20,000 to the fund.

STU Ogyeamansan Slot
In addition, he announced that Sunyani Technical University would offer two full scholarships every year to students connected to the Sunyani Stool for a period of ten years. The scholarship, to be known as the “STU Ogyeamansan Slot,” will allow beneficiaries to pursue any programme of their choice at the university, with a focus on skills-based education.

The Vice-Chancellor urged the people of Sunyani to uphold their cultural values while embracing education as the bridge between their proud past and a prosperous future.

He encouraged prospective beneficiaries to take full advantage of the opportunity to develop themselves and contribute meaningfully to the growth of the community.

Accountability
For his part, the Sunyanimanhene, Ogyeamansan Boahen Korkor II Nana spoke about streamlining the accounts of the Sunyani Traditional Council and mentioned that monies received previously went straight to individual purses and bags.

This, he said, explains why he has created the finance and accounts department to ensure proper accountability and transparency.

He touched on creating the Sunyani stool land Secretariat to ensure proper land administration and the use of modern technology in advancing the course of the area.

He stated that it has always been his dream to ensure that no one is left behind because of financial challenges, hence the establishment of the Ogyeamansan Educational Fund.

Missing link
Odeefour Ogyeamansan Boahen Korkor II, the Omanhene of Sunyani, was elated that the missing link in addressing challenges in education within the Sunyani Traditional Area would soon be addressed through the Ogyeamansan Educational Fund.

He mentioned that it was not an ideal situation that the community could not have any intervention that supported locals who had difficulty advancing their educational career because of lack of monetary and other material support.

“Seeing this day is indeed exciting to me and I am sure everyone here is equally excited. The days where money dictated who should go to school is now going to be over,” he asserts.