President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has directed the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat (GSS) to issue a full scholarship to a brilliant senior high school graduate — Abednego Sackey — who could not afford university education.
His sad story went viral on social media after it emerged that he got good grades but could not go to university due to poverty.
Abednego — a native of Subriso at Kwaebibirem in the Eastern Region — completed the Kade Senior Secondary and Technical School with seven A1s and B2. He posted on Facebook on September 28, looking up to the public to support him to go to university after losing his mother.
He said on Facebook, “My name is Sackey Abednego. I completed School at Subriso L/A JHS and Kade SHS in the Kwaebibirem Municipal Assembly. I offered science and had the result here but unfortunately for me my single mum who provides for me passed out before my final exams.”
He pleaded with the public to come to his aid and left his contact to be reached.
The President’s attention was subsequently drawn to the issue and he immediately directed the GSS to sponsor the student.
The Registrar of the GSS, Kingsley Agyemang, said on Wednesday that “his dream is to study medicine and we as a government agency will make sure that he gains admission to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology with a full scholarship in addition to stipends throughout his period of learning.”
He urged Abednego Sackey to take advantage of the platform given him to do the President and the country proud.
Mr. Agyemang also made a personal donation of GH¢1,000 to the family of Abednego Sackey.
Janet Sackey — an Auntie of Abednego Sackey who accompanied him to the GSS in Accra — highly commended the President for the gesture.
“I am even short of words. We thought all was lost. I want to say a big thank you to President Akufo-Addo and everyone who has helped my child to pursue his dreams. And to Mr. Agyemang and the Scholarships Secretariat, I will want to say a big thank you,” she said.