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The Lebanese community in Ghana has presented scholarship packages to 13 students at a ceremony in Accra.The scholarships will cover tuition and accommodation costs of the students. Over 35 Ghanaian soldiers from the Ghana Armed Forces lost their lives while serving as peacekeepers in South Lebanon and the donation by the Lebanese community seeks to support the children of the fallen heroes. The presentation, which was held at the Burma Hall at Burma Camp, was attended by representatives of the Lebanese community in Ghana, service chiefs, retired generals, director-generals of the Ghana Armed Forces, senior officers, and the families of the deceased officers. Some of the beneficiaries of the scholarship are Samuel Kofi Amponsah, Emmanuel Amponsah, Rebecca Adu, Gifty Akyoo-mah Frempong, Eric Kofi Adu, Edward Siam Frempong, Nana Kwame Arthur and Charles Appiah Forkuof. Others are Rachel Abena Adogbah, Lilian Gyamfuwa Gyinae, Harriet Alexander Arthur, Edwin Mwintone Bozie and Jessica Bozie. Essence of presentation Addressing the ceremony, the Lebanese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Ali H. Halabi, said the significance of the presentation was to honour the sacrifices of the Ghanaian Army and its brave soldiers who gave their lives in various battlefields as contribution to world peace. He said the Lebanese community last year granted scholarships to 22 students in Ghanaian universities, adding that �the community, which obeys the laws of the country, has contributed to the economic development of Ghana; Lebanese factories and enterprises had secured over 200,000 job opportunities�. A representative of the Lebanese community in Ghana, Mr Ashkar Naaman, said the country had provided a favourable atmosphere and environment to Lebanese nationals, pledging the community�s unflinching support in working towards the socio-economic development of the country. Significance of initiative In his address, the Minister of Defence, Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, said the instrumental efforts made by such �brave and gallant women and men� needed to be celebrated, since they availed their lives to enhance peace, freedom and democracy around the globe. Speaking about some of the successes chalked up by peacekeepers in the country, Mr Woyongo said the country had served in over 63 United Nations peacekeeping missions, including those in Cambodia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Congo. He explained that the country ranked eigth on the list of 122 countries which contributed security personnel to UN peacekeeping operations, adding that it had seen the loss of about 130 Ghanaian peacekeepers since it started contributing towards peacekeeping missions in 1960. The minister advised the awardees of the scholarships that the donors had confidence in them so they should not disappoint them, adding they should ensure that the sacrifices made by their parents were not in vain. Furthermore, he tasked them to join enterprises that would enhance and develop their skills and networks, and be studious to contribute towards addressing pressing challenges confronting the country.