400 Students Benefit From Edem Agbana’s Second Phase Scholarship Scheme

Hon. Eric Edem Agbana, Member of Parliament for Ketu North has selected about 400 students out of a total of 786 applications into his Ketu North Scholar Scheme, in a move that continues to place education at the centre of development efforts in the constituency.

The ceremony, held in Dzodze, marked the second cohort of beneficiaries under the initiative and drew a large gathering of students, parents, traditional leaders and invited guests.

The initiative forms part of Mr. Agbana’s commitment to investing in human capital and empowering the youth of Ketu North through education, ensuring that financial challenges do not prevent talented students from achieving their academic aspirations.

Launched in 2025, the Ketu North Scholar Scheme supported more than 300 students in its first year, with scholarships valued at over GH¢1.3 million. This year, 786 students applied, with 400 selected after a competitive screening and interview process.

Addressing the event, Mr Agbana said the scheme is a direct response to the financial challenges that prevent many qualified students from accessing tertiary education.

“It is with a heart full of gratitude and an unshakeable sense of purpose that I stand before you today to welcome you to the 2nd Edition of The Ketu North Scholar, a vision born not from politics, but from a deep and personal conviction that no young person in Ketu North should be denied the transformative power of higher education simply because of where they were born or what their family earns” part of his speech reads.

READ HIS FULL SPEECH BELOW:

Protocol observed.

Distinguished guests, traditional rulers, educators, our revered Chiefs and community leaders, proud parents, and above all our brilliant scholars. Good afternoon.

It is with a heart full of gratitude and an unshakeable sense of purpose that I stand before you today to welcome you to the 2nd Edition of The Ketu North Scholar, a vision born not from politics, but from a deep and personal conviction that no young person in Ketu North should be denied the transformative power of higher education simply because of where they were born or what their family earns.

When we launched this initiative, some people asked whether it was sustainable. Some wondered whether the ambition was too grand. Today, I am proud to say that the answer is a resounding yes!! it is not only sustainable, it is necessary, and it is growing.

Last year, in our maiden edition, we awarded scholarships to four hundred and twenty-one students enrolled in various public tertiary institutions across Ghana. That is not just a number. Each of those 421 represents a family’s hope, a community’s pride, and a nation’s future.

Today, we gather for our second edition, and we do so with even greater resolve. Because we have seen what happens when access is granted. We have seen grades improve. We have seen confidence return. We have seen young people from Ketu North walking taller on campuses across this country, knowing they are not alone.

Our theme this year “Empowering Ketu North through Access to Higher Education” is not merely a phrase. It is a philosophy. It is a declaration that development cannot be achieved without investing in the minds of our people. Roads and infrastructure matter. Healthcare matters. But none of it is sustained without an educated population driving it forward. Education is the foundation upon which every other form of development is built.

I want to speak directly to our scholars for a moment. You are here today because someone your parents, your teachers, your community — sacrificed for you. And now, this programme is here to ensure that sacrifice is not in vain. But let me be clear: this scholarship is not a gift to be received passively. It is a baton in a relay race. You are expected to run hard, run well, and one day hand it to the next generation of Ketu North’s children. Excellence is required. Service is expected. Humility is non-negotiable.

To our partners, donors, and supporters who have made this edition possible, I say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your investment in these young people is an investment in Ketu North, in the Volta Region, and in Ghana. History will be kind to you.

To the parents and guardians, you have done the most important work. Raising a child with the ambition to pursue higher education in the face of hardship requires a special kind of love and resilience. Ketu North salutes you.

And to the people of Ketu North, my people, I want you to know that this programme reflects my deepest commitment to you. Not as a politician, but as a son of this land. We may not be able to solve everything overnight, but we can ensure that our children have the tools to solve the problems we leave behind.

The Ketu North Scholar will continue to grow. We will reach more students. We will cover more disciplines. We will build a community of scholars who carry the name of Ketu North with honour wherever they go.

Let today be a celebration of learning, of resilience, of community, and of possibility.

Congratulations to all our scholars. May your education be your liberation, and may Ketu North always be home to the dreams you are brave enough to chase.

Thank you. God bless you. God bless Ketu North.

Hon. Eric Edem Agbana

Member of Parliament, Ketu North, Founder, The Ketu North Scholar