Methodist Church Supports 50 Students

Since its inception in the year 2000, the scholarship scheme of the Methodist Church of Ghana has given scholarships to over 1,500 needy but brilliant students of the church. This year, the scholarship scheme is supporting 50 children.

These beneficiaries, according to the Director of the Children's Ministry Directorate (CMD) Very Rev Kenneth Arthur-Sarfo were selected across the connexion. He added that most of the beneficiaries are in institutions of higher learning with some working in the academia, banks, media, health etc.

Speaking to one of the 2008 beneficiaries from the Obuasi Diocese Mr Abraham Oppong, a staff nurse at the Eziama hospital in the Western Region, recounts how the scholarship has helped his life and the relief it brought to his family.

He stated that the scheme has contributed immensely to his life and expressed his gratitude to the church and the Children's Ministry.

Another beneficiary of the 2010 batch, Mercy Boahen also a staff nurse at the New Edubiase Government hospital in the Ashanti region, was full of gratitude to the church for the award scheme.

She stated that she was a nurse today because of the scholarship and will never forget the moment she was announced among the four winners for the Obuasi Diocese.

In a ceremony in Accra at the New Achimota circuit's St. John Methodist Chapel to award the 2018 batch of beneficiaries, Very Rev Arthur-Sarfo stated that the award scheme would undergo some transformation from next academic year (2019/20), following the introduction of the free SHS policy by the government.

He stated that the 2018 conference at Sekondi has approved conditions that beneficiaries who complete Senior High School (SHS) successfully with good grades in the West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) would be given further support to the tertiary level and that children who enter into apprenticeship would be assisted with the head-fee and the provision of basic equipment.

He also said that Sunday school teachers who need support to enter tertiary school would be assisted by the scheme and that children in special schools would also be assisted.

Preaching the sermon, the Bishop of Accra Diocese Rt. Rev Samuel Kofi Osabutey urged the beneficiaries to treasure the scholarship and see it as a privilege given them by the church towards brightening their future by putting in their maximum effort in academics to make the scholarship relevant in their lives.

In his acceptance speech as the Chair of the event, the Senior Minister Yaw Osafo Maafo congratulated the award winners and recalled the important roles similar scholarship schemes have played in his life.

He stated that he wouldn't have been where he is now without educational scholarships, citing his poor background, and urged the beneficiaries to grab this opportunity from the church and to make the best use of it by excelling academically.

This year, the scheme is supporting 50 children across the connexion with at least two beneficiaries from the 19 Dioceses and 10 special awards including for children with special needs. The major contributors to the scheme continue to be the connexion with support from the R.C. Korle family.

Currently, the scheme is making annual payments of GH₵360 to the day students and GH₵1200 to the boarding students. The church, according to the CMD Director, is still appealing to individuals and cooperate bodies to support the scheme.

This year's award ceremony saw in attendance the immediate past Director of the Children's Ministry, Mrs Janet Thompson, the connexion superintendent of the Sunday School Teachers Council, Emmanuel Mensah and his executives, with representation from the connexional council and other important dignitaries.

Source: CitiNewsRoom