Thomas Ampem Nyarko, the Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman, has extended financial support to more than 200 tertiary students in his constituency, including freshmen and continuing students.
The MP issued a cheque worth GHC300,000 to assist the first batch of Level 200 students in paying their tuition fees. This initiative is part of his commitment to supporting parents and brilliant but needy students within the constituency who face challenges in financing their education at the start of each academic year.
The MP’s office receives numerous applications from students in various tertiary institutions across the country seeking support through his fee-paying programme. This year, at least four applicants were selected from each of the 37 electoral areas in the constituency to ensure fairness and equitable access.
Beneficiaries included students pursuing diverse fields such as Law, Nursing, Engineering, and Medicine. Many of these students had gained admission but struggled to raise funds for tuition and hostel fees.
Although the support came at a critical time for the students, its disbursement was delayed due to challenges the MP faced in accessing his share of the assembly’s common fund, which was reportedly withheld by the former District Chief Executive (DCE) for Asuogyaman, Mavis Opokua Akunnor.
During a brief ceremony at the forecourt of the Asuogyaman District Assembly to disburse the funds, the MP emphasized his determination to mobilize more resources to expand the initiative and support more students transitioning from senior high school to tertiary institutions.
“Thanks be to God, I have received positive feedback from some hotels and private companies who are willing to support this good initiative. I engaged them on the need to invest in education, and their response has been encouraging. We are going to expand this project to enable more people to benefit in the coming months,” the MP stated.
He urged the beneficiaries to excel academically and uphold the trust placed in them by their families and the constituency.
“All I ask from you is to not let us down—your parents, families, and the constituency. Going forward, this support will be based on merit. We need to see evidence of good results. Continuing students, in particular, will be required to include their transcripts in their applications to show that they are making progress in their studies,” he added.
This gesture is expected to ease the financial burden on parents and empower students to pursue their professional aspirations.