Accra, May 23rd, 2012 - MTN Ghana Foundation at a brief ceremony today announced scholarships totalling GH¢ 100,000.00 to be awarded to 10 pre-tertiary students. The merit awards form part of the package to acknowledge subscribers for their loyalty to the MTN brand following MTN’s 10 million subscriber milestone attained recently.

The awards aim at supporting the education of 10 brilliant and needy students across the country while encouraging improved essay writing skills among tertiary institution students. They also affirm the Foundation’s commitment to support education and other life enriching projects in all the 10 regions of Ghana. The beneficiaries will be selected through an essay writing competition and other assessment procedures.

MTN Ghana Foundation will organize a nationwide essay competition from 23rd May to 29th June, to select students who will enjoy full academic scholarships through their tertiary education in selected institutions. The entrants must be between the ages of 18 and 25 years of age and must be pre-tertiary students who have applied for admission in any of the selected institutions.

One winner will be chosen from each of the 10 regions of Ghana and will benefit from a financial aid of GH¢ 10,000.00 in support of his or her education. A panel of seasoned judges will review the entries and determine the winners. The announcement of the winners will be made at a ceremony in August 2012.

During launch of the award project, Mrs. Cynthia Lumor, Executive Director of MTN Ghana Foundation, said MTN is committed to the promotion of academic excellence and will continue to make significant investments aimed at promoting personal growth and community development.

Mrs. Lumor said, “I am proud to state that the scholarship scheme, instituted in the year 2000 by Spacefon, has been further enhanced by the MTN Ghana Foundation to help improve the educational base of Ghana. In all, about one thousand one hundred and fifty (1,150) students have benefitted from the scheme, from the basic school level to the tertiary level. The10 million Subscriber Merit Award is unique and offers another opportunity for us to add to the number of MTN scholarship beneficiaries we already have."
Details of the competition will be made available in print and electronic media for interested participants.

The launch was performed by Mr. Kwesi Gyan Apenteng, President of the Ghana Association of Writers at MTN Ghana’s Head office.

MTN Ghana Foundation, the CSR arm of MTN Ghana is the vehicle for undertaking corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in support of communities around the country. Since its establishment in 2007, the MTN Ghana Foundation has invested about 7 million Ghana cedis into community development projects. Education has been one of the focus areas of MTN’s CSR activities. In addition to putting up 12 school blocks for about 12 communities, 15 ICT Centres are being set up by the Foundation across the country. Some health projects implemented include support to the Korle Bu Maternity Block, the Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital and the provision of medical equipment to Kotokuom, Shama, Atebie and KNUST Government hospitals.