The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has declared the cessation of its scholarship initiative, citing the enactment of the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme by the government.

Instead, the board has founded the Cocoa Board Education Trust, to furnish vital primary school facilities in neglected cocoa-producing regions.

According to the board chairman, Peter Mac Manu, the discontinuation of the scholarship scheme was deemed necessary due to the influence of the Free SHS initiative.

"With the advent of the Free SHS by the Akufo-Addo administration, it’s time for us to adapt and evolve.

Although the COCOBOD Scholarship Scheme has been recognised as valuable and significant, it has gradually deviated from its original purpose.

For years, the COCOBOD Scholarship Scheme has provided financial assistance to students hailing from cocoa-producing communities.

Yet, with the implementation of the Free SHS initiative, the board has opted to reallocate its resources to furnish vital primary school infrastructure in neglected regions.

The newly established Cocoa Board Education Trust, initiated by the board, seeks to establish exemplary primary schools in cocoa-producing communities.

Mr Peter Mac asserts that the trust exemplifies the board's steadfast dedication to the prosperity and welfare of cocoa farmers and their children.

 “As we bid farewell to the Scholarship Scheme, we must look forward and prioritise the continued educational advancement of the cocoa farming community. It’s with this vision that the board of directors has decided to establish the Ghana Cocoa Board Education Trust.

This trust is a testament to our unwavering commitment to the prosperity and well-being of cocoa farmers and their children. The primary objective of the Education Trust is clearly to focus on providing essential primary school infrastructure in underserved cocoa growing areas.” he said