Government Introduces Tertiary Education Scholarship for Cocoa Farmers’ Children
ACCRA, GHANA — In a transformative policy shift announced in November 2024, the government has expanded COCOBOD’s longstanding cocoa scholarship to the tertiary level, ensuring children of registered cocoa farmers receive fully funded university education. This reform follows the successful implementation of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme, which rendered the previous SHS-based scholarship redundant.
What the New Scholarship Entails
- The revised scheme now covers tuition fees at accredited universities, polytechnics, and technical institutions, exclusively for wards of cocoa farmers.
- It replaces the COCOBOD Scholarship Scheme previously limited to SHS students.
- Using the Cocoa Management System, COCOBOD can now accurately identify eligible beneficiaries and ensure transparency.
Rationale Behind the Expansion
- Free SHS removed financial barriers at the secondary level, prompting officials to redirect scholarship resources toward higher education.
- The initiative aligns with broader goals to empower rural communities and deepen socioeconomic inclusion in Ghana’s agrarian backbone.
Political & Transformational Significance
- Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia spearheaded the policy announcement during the 2024 Farmers’ Day celebration at Jacobu, symbolizing the NPP-government’s commitment to rural upliftment.
- The policy carries strong bipartisan resonance, with cocoa being both an economic driver and a sociocultural identity for many Ghanaian communities.
A Strategic Vision for Agricultural Communities
- With tertiary education comes opportunity—this policy bridges the rural–urban wealth gap, fosters professional diversification, and equips cocoa communities with skilled agents of national development.
- Critics caution that long-term success hinges on robust monitoring, consistent funding, and metrics ensuring transparent deployment.
- The reforms signal a shift from uplifting today’s farmers to empowering tomorrow’s professionals—a cornerstone of sustained national growth.
Source: My News Ghana
About the Author
