The Lebanese Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Ali I. Halabi, has paid a courtesy call on the Vice –Chancellor of KNUST, Prof. William Otoo Ellis. The visit was to intensify the cordial relationship that exists between Lebanon and Ghana and also to provide scholarships to some excellent students of the university.
Mr. Ali H. Halabi was accompanied by Mr Adonis Halabi also from the Lebanese Embassy.
The ambassador observed that giving scholarships to brilliant students of the public universities of Ghana was their priority. He added that the Lebanese Government has, since 1970, invested in the economic sector of Ghana and therefore, deemed it necessary to extend their support to the educational sector. This, he explained, could only be achieved through the award of scholarships to brilliant students in the country and that the scholarship would cover tuition and accommodation. He revealed that the scholarship scheme had been in existence since 1970 and KNUST was privileged to be a beneficiary institution.
Prof. Sam Afranie, Provost of the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS), emphasised that the university was always ready to collaborate with countries, investors and corporate bodies willing to support the educational sector of the country. He was of the opinion that the initiative by the Lebanese government would motivate students and enhance effective studies in the university.
Prof. Stephen Offei, Dean of the Faculty of Law, appreciated the gesture and was hopeful that it would be an impetus to diligent academic work in their young faculty. He appealed to the Lebanese government to extend the scholarship to the teaching staff in the future.
Prof. W.O Ellis, the Vice Chancellor, was grateful for the visit and affirmed that the Ambassador’s initiative was very welcome. He said the University had a well-structured system and would, therefore, do whatever was possible to support the scholarship scheme. Prof. Ellis stated that the selection of students for the scholarship would be done through interview of qualified students by either the representatives of the Lebanese government or the University authorities.
Mr. Al Habbi, a Lebanese businessman in Kumasi who accompanied the ambassador on his visit said the Lebanese government’s decision to invest in KNUST was a step in the right direction. KNUST, he observed, was one of the few universities which trained students from all over Africa and, therefore, investing in KNUST meant investing in Africa.
