The University of Cape Coast, in collaboration with the Students Financial Support Office, has held the Maiden UCC Scholarship Awards ceremony for needy-but brilliant students in the University.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, in his opening remarks as the Chairperson, said the Students' Financial Support Office was set up in 2019 with the University Council's approval after it had been observed that some students faced diverse difficulties in raising funds to pay their fees.

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh, explained the selection processes of the Awards Scheme. She noted that in all, a total of 1,165 students applied for the scholarships with a total financial need of over 4 million Ghana cedis. The applicants were shortlisted and interviewed via video and telephone calls. A total of 377 full and partial scholarships were awarded to 36 students from the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, 89 from the College of Humanities and Legal Studies, 40 from the College of Education Studies, 32 from the College of Health and Allied Sciences, and 180 from the College of Distance Education.

She expressed gratitude to all the initiators and UCC Management for making the needs of students’ paramount in the University. She mentioned that it was the expectation of stakeholders that the intervention in the lives of scholarship winners would produce best results and better the lives and future of students. She said, “A written component of the Student Financial Office is to set up a work-study program where needy-but brilliant and promising students can work on campus on an annual basis to earn money without compromising their studies.” She also said the University would organize seminars on skills acquisition and volunteerism for these students. She called on stakeholders, organizations, and individuals to support the initiative.

Present at the ceremony was the Omanhene of Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, Former Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, Provosts of Colleges, Deans, Directors, Heads of Department, Sections, and Units, and Partners from Financial and Corporate Institutions.