The Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) chapter of the Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG), has launched an endowment fund to assist needy and deserving students to enable them continue with their studies, in Accra.
The president of GRASAG-GIMPA, Mr Raphael Apetorgbor, said the initiative christened, Graduate Studies Endowment Fund (GSEF) fund, would serve as a source of financing graduate research work.
He explained that the fund would be a supplementary fund for academic programmes or projects that may be useful to graduate students.
Mr Apetorgbor disclosed that a policy deriving its power from the GRASAG-GIMPA’s constitution had been put in place by the founding fathers of GRASAG-GIMPA.
According to him, the policy defined the organs, structure and function of the endowment fund.
Mr Apetorgbor explained that establishment of an endowment fund in universities remained the best practice around the globe.
He therefore entreated students’ leaders in the country to establish endowment funds to support brilliant students to enable them succeed in their education.
“The establishment of endowment fund in educational institutions around the world is common now because of its significance. I humbly appeal to our students’ leaders to establish these funds to support deserving students. The embezzlement of students’ funds is not ethical so let us put these monies we receive into good use,” Mr Apetorgbor emphasized.
He mentioned that the GSEF would be supported by the 20 per cent of the annual dues paid by graduate students at GIMPA, 5 per cent of the annual research bursary from each student’s entitled bursary from the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat and charitable contributions from donors, who may be individuals or organizations within and outside the GIMPA community.
Mr Apetorgbor urged Ghanaians to support educational institutions through endowment funds, and asked the pioneer board of the GSEF to work assiduously to grow the fund.
The Deputy Rector of GIMPA, Professor Martin Morgan Tuuli, commended GRASAG-GIMPA for the laudable initiative.
He said “anywhere GIMPA graduates show up, they are able to shine. GIMPA is very proud of raising the kind of leaders that can actually tackle problems and engage in national development.”
Former Dean of Students at GIMPA, Prof Anthony Sallar, praised GRASAG-GIMPA for launching the Graduate Studies Endowment Fund.
He advised the executives to show commitment by allocating one month of their allowance to the fund.
BY RAISSA SAMBOU
