The Kufuor Scholars Program, an initiative of former President John A. Kufuor aimed at grooming tertiary students into noble leaders, has opened applications to recruit new scholars.
 
A statement issued in Accra by Prof. Baffour Agyeman-Duah, chief executive officer of The John A. Kufuor Foundation which runs the initiative, explained the program provides a specialised three-year transformational leadership preparation for the African youth.
 
KSP primarily seeks to add value to formal education at the tertiary level and produce leaders imbued with a strong sense of patriotism.

It also aims to produce leaders who are innovative, problem solvers, creative thinkers and knowledgeable in their respective fields of endeavour. It targets Level 100 students in Ghanaian universities.
 
Prof. Agyeman-Duah explained over a three-year period, recruited Scholars would benefit from leadership mentoring, camps, excursions and visits, seminars, webinars, practical leadership internships, and execution of personal projects prior to graduation.
 
“Included in the package are a branded personal laptop and semester stipends. The Scholar may also have the opportunity of participating in international exchange programs,” the statement added.
 
The CEO explained that to be eligible for consideration, the potential Kufuor Scholar must be of Ghanaian nationality.

They must have demonstrable leadership interests and experience. 

They must also demonstrate nationalistic orientation and capacity to promote political and religious tolerance, human rights, and ethnic co-existence for national development.
 
Started in 2015, the Kufuor Scholars Program on annual basis recruits 20 to 30 first-year students as scholars. 

The program seeks to imbibe the former president’s effective leadership in these tertiary-level students. 

“Through KSP, I have been empowered and given the confidence to pursue my interests. I have also been given the learning tools and necessary encouragements to exceed my academic expectations,” Abigail Yayera Asafo, a scholar who schools at Ashesi University, testified.
 
“I have been reoriented to be daring, and learned ways to lead myself, first, before leading others to create impact,” Gideon Takyo Boakye, another scholar schooling at the University for Development Studies, said.

“KSP has given me the tools to look beyond tribe, religion, and politics and has fostered in me patriotism and an urge for competition globally,” Elizabeth Dansoa Osei of the University of Ghana added.