The Lebanese Community in Ghana last Friday granted 16 students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) scholarship at the school’s campus in Kumasi.

It was the Lebanese Community’s second gesture in as many weeks following a similar gesture to the University of Ghana, Legon in Accra.

The scholarship was in recognition of  the law students  exceptional academic performance .   

In his address, the HE Ali Halabi, Lebanese Ambassador to Ghana said, “The Lebanese Community in the country identified the star in each of these students and decided to award them scholarships to spur them on to achieve greater feats especially within the academic arena.

“The Lebanese Community has existed in Ghana for over a century and it is an undisputed fact that immense contributions have been made to the growth of the economy with investments exceeding 2 billion dollars and the employment of more than 250 thousand Ghanaians".
 
“The choice to award these scholarships to law students is premised on the underpinnings of the profession. It is one in which every society is grounded and as stressed by Martin Luther King, “When it fails, it becomes a dangerously structured dam that blocks the flow of social progress”.

He went on, "It is our belief that these students, if given the needed push, will be drivers of the social progress in this great nation. It is worthy of note that, beyond the support we are offering them here at the university, through our assistance, some of these students were able to gain hands-on experience during the long vacation, while interning at law firms right here in Kumasi and Accra."

Halabi emphasized, "The Lebanese community will do all it can to provide more support to these young men and women in any way possible. The gesture is also being replicated in other tertiary institutions totaling 100 scholarships being awarded so far by the Lebanese community."

"To the beneficiaries, the message is simple. The future is not tomorrow, it is now. Continue to may hay while the sun is up. It is hard work that has earned you this scholarship and it is more hard work that will keep you here and even take you higher. To whom much is given, much is expected so do not relent in anyway and continue to make your parents, institution and nation proud." 

Vice Chancellor of  KNUST Prof. William Otoo Ellis said, “Always remember who helped you get there - I mean the Lebanese Community in Ghana.”

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