The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) is intending to cancel its Farmers Scholarship Trust for beneficiaries entering senior high schools (SHS).

The funds will instead be channeled into developing school infrastructure for needy communities.

For almost 50 years, the COCOBOD, through its scholarship scheme, has provided scholarship for children of cocoa farmers in SHS, primarily paying for their tuition, including examination fees, boarding and feeding.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of COCOBOD, Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo said the decision to scrap the scholarship programme is due to the introduction of the free SHS scheme.

He argued that there is no longer need for the fund to continue paying school fees, thus the decision to now channel that money into another profitable use within the education sector.

Speaking at a cocoa farmers’ rally at Kokobeng in the Akim Swedru District, Mr Boahen Aidoo said:  "Due to the free SHS introduced by the government, we want to channel that fund into improving school infrastructure in areas where the children walk several kilometres before they can access education facilities," he stated.

He, however, indicated that the proposal was awaiting the approval of the Board of COCOBOD.

Accompanied by other directors from the Ghana Cocoa Board, Mr Aidoo and his entourage toured Pramkese in the Kwaebibirem Municipality, Kokobeng in the Akim Swedru District and Asuoso in the West Akim Municipality where they interacted with farmers.

The tour formed part of activities by COCOBOD to follow up on its Productivity Enhancement Programmes (PEPs). The COCOBOD CEO and his entourage met with more than a 1,000 cocoa farmers and cooperatives at the three rallies.