More than 200 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) graduates in the Wa East District have received direct financial support totalling over GH¢200,000 from the Member of Parliament for the area, Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw, to assist with their transition to Senior High School.

Each qualifying student received GH¢1,000 in cash during an engagement held in Bulenga, aimed at alleviating the financial burden on parents preparing their wards for secondary and technical education.

Addressing traditional leaders, educational authorities, parents and students, Dr Jasaw explained that the decision to provide cash rather than conventional supplies such as trunks, mattresses or chop boxes was tailored to the harsh economic realities of the district.

“Wa East District is particularly endemic with high levels and high incidence of poverty,” Dr Jasaw stated. “I decided to intervene in a way that can be impactful directly to the parents and their wards. In my case, it is different... In fact, the poverty is such that they don’t need a trunk. A chop box must be enough. In fact, for some of them, a Ghana-Must-Go bag is enough. Because how to even prepare uniform and food for these kids to take to secondary school remains a challenge.”

He emphasised that the cash grants would allow families to address their most urgent and specific needs.

“I will give them the money, then they will decide whether they want to go and use it to buy a chop box, buy gari, buy shito, sew uniform, or buy books.”

Despite the intervention, the legislator expressed strong dissatisfaction with the district’s academic performance, revealing that the best aggregate recorded among candidates this year was 22.

Dr Jasaw noted that the bursary was initially intended strictly as a merit-based scheme targeting students with aggregates between 6 and 15 to incentivise academic excellence.

However, the absence of high-performing results forced him to widen the eligibility bracket to aggregate 35 to provide social relief.

“Quite unfortunately, Director of Education, I couldn't get aggregate 15 from my district. The best grade I got recorded for me was aggregate 22. And that is terrible, to say the least,” Dr Jasaw said, describing the outcome as unacceptable.

He issued a stern call to the District Directorate of Education to overhaul its supervisory mechanisms and improve teacher delivery, while pledging to sponsor capacity-building workshops for headteachers and circuit supervisors.

The District Chief Executive for Wa East, Adamu Sayibu, commended the initiative and echoed the call for accountability, urging students and their families to manage the funds prudently.

“The leadership of Wa East are behind you; we are more concerned about your welfare and your education,” Sayibu said. “Whatever support that he is going to give to you, no matter the amount, let's use it judiciously. It is not a competition; it is a matter of just the ability to support.”

Beneficiary students expressed relief, noting that the cash intervention was crucial in helping them prepare for school.

Nurideen Fakiha, who completed Busa-Tampala D/A JHS with aggregate 22, the district’s top score, expressed gratitude for the support.

“Dr Seidu Jasaw has provided us with some money. My mother is going to help us buy our prospectus with this money,” Fakiha said, promising to apply herself and “come out with flying colours” at the secondary level.

Another graduate, Yakubu Sumaila, also of Busa-Tampala D/A JHS, described the intervention as a lifesaver for underprivileged families.

“I am very happy, and I think it is only God that can repay him... to help us, those that cannot do anything,” Sumaila said, pledging to study hard in Senior High School to make the district proud.

Dr Jasaw urged the graduates not to be demoralised by their basic school grades, encouraging them to view Senior High School as a clean slate and an opportunity to excel and contribute meaningfully to the future development of Wa East.