More than 1,000 brilliant but needy Senior High School (SHS) students in the Jomoro Constituency have received scholarship assistance from the Member of Parliament, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, in the latest edition of her flagship education support programme.
Madam Affo-Toffey, who is also the Deputy Transport Minister, has been the pacesetter for the scholarship package for BECE candidates entering second-cycle institutions.
In 2025, over 600 candidates benefited from similar support, but the 2026 edition exceeded previous efforts.
Now in its sixth edition, the initiative brought together beneficiaries from 111 public and private schools across the constituency, providing vital educational support to students and relieving the financial burden on their parents and guardians.
The programme, which began in 2021 when Madam Affo-Toffey was not yet an MP, has since been emulated by other Members of Parliament and has become a major calendar activity for MPs, municipal, metropolitan and district chief executives, and traditional leaders.
It holds particular significance for families facing financial difficulties, as the cost of education continues to weigh heavily on parents and guardians.
By extending support to students in both public and private schools, the programme aims to ensure that financial circumstances do not become an insurmountable barrier to the educational aspirations of deserving students.
Beneficiaries from every village, town and city in the Jomoro Municipality received trunks, mattresses, chop boxes, exercise books and mosquito nets. Female candidates, who formed the majority of the student population, also received sanitary pads to support their monthly periods.
The presentation, held at Bonyere Junction, drew parents and traditional leaders, including chiefs and queen mothers, as well as dignitaries, constituency executives and other stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, Madam Affo-Toffey said the scholarship programme goes beyond financial assistance, describing it as an investment in the future of children in Jomoro.
“For me, this is more than a scholarship; it is an investment in the future of our children and a way of easing the burden on parents,” she said.
“This has come to stay, and even after I have retired, whoever would take after me should be willing to continue and make sure the people of Jomoro benefit, and I am willing to support whoever would succeed me.”
The MP said one of her greatest motivations for sustaining the programme is seeing beneficiaries from previous editions progress to tertiary education.
Their achievements, she noted, continue to inspire her to expand and sustain efforts aimed at giving young people in the constituency the opportunity to pursue their educational ambitions.
Madam Affo-Toffey expressed appreciation to parents and guardians of beneficiaries, as well as traditional authorities, dignitaries, constituency executives and other stakeholders who attended the event and contributed to its success.
She reaffirmed her commitment to education and the development of young people in the constituency, stressing that the children of Jomoro represent the future of the area.
“Our children are Jomoro’s future, and I remain committed to giving them every opportunity to succeed,” she said.
The MP also acknowledged the role of God in making the initiative possible, expressing gratitude to God Almighty for enabling the programme to reach its sixth year.
The Jomoro Municipal Chief Executive, Benedict Boadi, praised the MP for her consistent support for education in the municipality.
He said that through the MP, and under the good governance of President John Mahama, education in the municipality is thriving.
Mr Boadi said the education sector has received tremendous support from the MP in diverse ways, with several school buildings springing up in various communities because of her efforts.
He said he can attest to the MP’s work for the municipality, adding that such efforts deserve praise to motivate her to do more.
He therefore declared October as the “commissioning month,” during which the MP and the assembly would commission several completed projects, including school buildings.
The latest edition of the scholarship initiative adds to ongoing efforts to support students in Jomoro and encourage them to remain focused on their education, with the hope that beneficiaries will go on to pursue tertiary education and contribute meaningfully to the development of the constituency and Ghana as a whole.
