Kassena-Nankana West District to establish education fund to support studies in local languages, medicine
The proposed fund will receive 10 per cent of the Assembly’s annual IGF, alongside donations, to support students in selected language and medical programmes.
The Kassena-Nankana West District Assembly has announced plans to establish an education fund to provide financial assistance to brilliant but needy students from the district pursuing studies in French, Gurune, Kassem, medicine and specialised nursing.
The announcement was made at the Second Ordinary Meeting of the Assembly held on Tuesday October 27, at the Assembly’s Conference Hall.
Addressing members of the Assembly, the District Chief Executive (DCE), Stephen Aeke Akurugo, said the initiative was intended to address language barriers and promote cross-border interactions between residents of the district and neighbouring countries, particularly Burkina Faso.
He noted that despite the district’s proximity to Burkina Faso, many residents faced communication difficulties due to their limited knowledge of French.
“This is a border district, and most times when you cross into Burkina Faso, you are unable to communicate. Some of them can speak English, but we cannot speak French,” he said.
Akurugo further observed that several communities, including Paga, Kandiga, Sirigu, Mirigu, Nakolo and Kayoro, lacked adequate French language teachers, limiting opportunities for pupils to acquire the language.
He also emphasised the importance of promoting the study of indigenous languages, particularly Gurune and Kassem, to preserve the cultural heritage of the area and prevent the gradual erosion of local languages.
On the inclusion of medicine and specialised nursing in the proposed fund, the DCE said6 healthcare was a critical sector that required deliberate investment in human resource development.
The proposed education fund is expected to be financed through an allocation of 10 per cent of the Assembly’s annual Internally Generated Funds (IGF), alongside donations and contributions from individuals, institutions and other benevolent organisations.
Meanwhile, Akurugo announced that the DCE’s bungalow had been completed and officially handed over.
He also disclosed that the government had released allowances for Assembly members for the second and third quarters, describing the payment as part of government’s commitment to improving their welfare and enabling them to discharge their mandates effectively.
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