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The Bii-Kunuto Educational Fund has disbursed GH¢200,000 to support 105 needy but brilliant students from Gonjaland as part of its educational assistance programme for 2026.
The brief disbursement ceremony was held at the Jakpa Palace on Friday, September 18, 2026, bringing together beneficiaries, representatives of the Fund and traditional authorities.
Speaking to the media after the ceremony, Mr. Mankir Ibn Malik, spokesperson for the Bii-Kunuto Educational Fund and Public Relations Officer of the Gonjaland Youth Association, said the initiative was established in 2023 under the leadership of His Royal Majesty, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I.
He said the Fund was established in response to concerns that financial difficulties continue to prevent many brilliant young people from pursuing their educational aspirations.
According to him, the initiative seeks to ensure that brilliant students from Gonjaland receive the necessary support to pursue their education regardless of their financial circumstances.
Mr. Ibn Malik disclosed that in 2024, the Fund supported more than 60 students with GH¢300,000, while in 2025, it established a Guidance and Counselling Project at Damongo Senior High School, which has since been completed and commissioned.
He added that the Fund had also supported three students from Gonjaland studying medicine in China, who are expected to return to Ghana after completing their studies and contribute their professional expertise to the development of the area.
105 Students Selected
Mr. Ibn Malik explained that the Fund received more than 200 applications for the 2026 intervention.
A committee was subsequently constituted to interview applicants and identify students who were genuinely needy and academically promising.
Following the assessment, 105 students were selected to benefit from the current intervention, with a total of GH¢200,000 committed to the programme.
Mr. Ibn Malik said management trusted the committee to undertake the selection process diligently and independently, stressing that beneficiaries were not selected based on their relationship with the royal family.
He said the committee considered the programmes being pursued by applicants as well as the tertiary institutions they attended.
The beneficiaries include students pursuing medicine, law, health-related programmes, education and other disciplines, as well as postgraduate students, including those pursuing PhD programmes.
Support for Gonja Language
Mr. Ibn Malik also highlighted the Fund’s decision to support students pursuing Gonja Language studies at the tertiary level.
He said the decision followed concerns over the declining number of young people applying to study Gonja Language, a situation he said could have implications for the preservation and promotion of Gonja language and culture.
He explained that the Fund would therefore support students who choose to study the language, with a significant number of beneficiaries in this year’s programme coming from the Gonja Language programme.
He described the latest intervention as one of several initiatives being undertaken by the Yagbonwura to promote education and human capital development in Gonjaland.
Yagbonwura Appeals for Commitment
The Yagbonwura, Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, urged beneficiaries to take their studies seriously and make good use of the opportunity provided through the educational support.
He particularly encouraged the female beneficiaries to remain focused on their education and work towards achieving their academic and professional aspirations.
The Yagbonwura also urged the beneficiaries, after becoming successful in the future, to remember the less privileged and extend a helping hand to other needy students facing similar challenges.
He further appealed to individuals and institutions that had made financial commitments towards the Bii-Kunuto Educational Fund but were yet to fulfil their pledges to honour them.
According to him, fulfilling the outstanding commitments would strengthen the Fund and enable it to support more students across Gonjaland.
Beneficiary Expresses Gratitude
One of the beneficiaries, Issah Alfred Eunice, a continuing law student at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), expressed gratitude to the Bii-Kunuto Educational Fund for supporting her education.
Speaking after receiving the scholarship support, Ms. Eunice said the assistance would help meet her tuition, hostel fees and other educational expenses.
She disclosed that she lost her father early last year and had since been relying on the limited resources left by her late father to finance her education.
According to her, the scholarship had come at a critical time and would help her continue pursuing her ambition of becoming a lawyer.
Ms. Eunice pledged to give back to society when she was in a position to do so, particularly by contributing to the development of Gonjaland.
She said many students, especially those studying in urban areas such as Accra, face significant financial challenges due to the high cost of education and accommodation.
She explained that students who are unable to secure university accommodation often have to pay substantial amounts for private hostels, placing additional financial pressure on families already struggling to meet tuition and other academic expenses.
She noted that the situation could be particularly difficult for students from single-parent households or families whose parents depend on farming and other low-income activities.
Ms. Eunice therefore appealed to non-governmental organisations, private institutions, individuals and development partners to support the Bii-Kunuto Educational Fund so that more students could benefit.
She said some young people remain at home despite having the academic ability to pursue higher education simply because they lack the financial resources to do so.
She stressed that supporting such students would not only transform individual lives but also contribute to the development of communities and society as a whole.
Ms. Eunice expressed hope that more organisations and individuals would support the Fund to enable it to reach more students facing financial difficulties.
She concluded that educational assistance should be viewed not merely as support for individuals, but as an investment in the wider society.
Source: ghanawatchonline.com/Salifu Adam Jabu
Samuel Sarkodie is a young journalist who has for years worked with Kumasi based OTEC FM as a news reporter and Time FM as a sports presenter, his versatility in the media fraternity has held him till date, he is always for the truth and accuracy in terms of news story. He is currently the Editor for this site, ghanawatchonline.com
