A lecturer at the University of Ghana, Accra, Professor Ransford Gyampo, has urged the government to identify and recognise philanthropists who use their wealth to transform the lives of others.
Such a gesture, he explained, was the only way to touch the heart of those who flaunt their wealth in glorifying themselves instead of using it for the good of society.
Prof. Gyampo made these remarks at the launch of a Scholarship Scheme for 30 needy students in the Greater Accra Region last Saturday.
The Scholarship Scheme organised by Relief and Aid International, a Non- Governmental Organisations (NGO), that seeks to put the smiles on faces of needy communities by working diligently to bridge the socio-cultural, educational and economic gaps.
The beneficiaries included two accounting students, two law students, three medical sciences students, one agriculture science and marketing student, three political science and 18 nursing students.
According to Prof. Gyampo, he was a product of someone’s generosity and kindness, and had never forgotten how he became what he is today.
Prof. Gyampo also indicated that the time had come for government to be humble enough to identity people like the founder of the NGO, Peggy Ama Adamafio, who is using her resources to support others in need.
He further said life become enjoyable when everyone had something to eat and wear, and urged the beneficiaries to make the best of the opportunity given them, in order to use their expertise to help others because,“wealth that is not shared is not wealth.”
A Patron of the NGO, Dr Nyaho NyahoTamakloe, also urged the scholarship Secretariat to operate with integrity in order to offer the needy what they deserve instead of awarding the scholarship to the undeserving, especially children of the affluent in society.
Integrity, he explained, was at its lowest peak in the country and what the Scholarship Secretariat needed now was to redeem its image by decentralising its activities to identify those who really need their packages.
The Adonten of the Ga State, Nii Ayi Bonte, commended the organisation for the efforts it had made in transforming the lives of the Tertiary students and the community, and prayed for Gods guidance to enable them succeed.
A former Mayor of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Ismael Tetteh Aryeetey, who chaired the event, said hope and empowerment were the desires of every human, hence the need to acknowledge and recognise those who sacrifice to the benefit of others.
Ms Adamafio said the aim of the group was to promote and fostergood and progressive relationships in society, enhance access to basic amenities, cater for the predominant needs of the vulnerable and support existing programmes in order to improve the country’s educational system.
She again stated that the group currently takes care of 30 elderly persons by financing their dental surgery, provided boreholes to seven communities and funded the Bukom Borehole water project which was handed over to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly to manage.
BY LAWRENCE VOMAFA-AKPALU
