The Paramount Chief of lower Dixcove who doubles as chairman for the Association of Chiefs on whose land the Ghana Rubber Estate Limited Operators (ACLANGO), Nana Kwesi Agyeman says he gets worried when the company is accused of doing nothing for its host communities.

The astute Chief in the Western Region says though Ghana Rubber Estate Limited (GREL) during their initial stages of operations was not helping their host communities, he can boldly point out numerous developmental projects and initiatives that the company has initiated in its host communities in the past ten years.

"Yes indeed they have been operating for a very long time but since the French management took over the company and ACLANGO was established whatever we ask for they provide,” he added.

Nana Kwesi Agyeman made these comments during the presentation of awards to some ten brilliant but needy students who gained admission to various Universities in the country in GREL's host communities.

“Over ten years ago, we the Nananom on whose lands GREL operate appealed to them, that most of our students are brilliant but needy so they should support them which they obliged and we are grateful.

"So, as Chiefs we want our subjects to understand that when we hear them say GREL isn’t helping its host communities we wonder,” he said.

He added that, the Association of Chiefs on whose land GREL Operates (ACLANGO) have worked with GREL to facilitate the education of selected brilliant but needy students in the past focusing on getting the needy students into Senior High School.

But the scholarship was changed to adjust to the free SHS policy since it was fulfilling their initial mission.

“We decided that we can’t continue because already the people are enjoying free school, so we concluded on supporting 10 of those who have completed SHS but couldn’t proceed to university due to financial challenges, “ he noted.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of GREL, Lionel Barre has expressed pleasure in the scholarship presentation.

He has encouraged students to make judicious use of the financial investment GREL has made in their tertiary education and has urged the Chiefs and families of the students to monitor their academic performances.

Mr Barre explained that the increase in several beneficiaries will be determined by how well the current beneficiaries perform in their field of study.