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The 2019/2020 academic year leadership of the Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG) has announced that a whooping GHC425,020 has been raised to support post-graduate research in the country.
The amount, according to GRASAG, was raised out of deductions made from the bursaries and thesis grant paid by the Scholarships Secretariat to post-graduate students in the country.

Speaking at the Association’s fourth senate meeting over the weekend held at the Central University, President of GRASAG, Samuel Sagoe, explained that a total of GHC198,030 was raised from deductions made from students who applied for bursary in 2018/2019 academic year while GHC226,830 was raised from deductions made from the 2019/2020 year group.

GRTF

GRASAG set up the Graduate Research Trust Fund (GRTF) to provide support for student research. The Association at its last congress held in the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) voted to have some GHC30 deducted from each student’s bursaries annually for the project.
According to the GRASAG president, the Association is going through the process of officially launching the fund so that students can start accessing the money.

GHC1.5 million support

The GRASAG President noted that, in addition to the Research Fund, after months of lobbying, the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration has made available an amount of GHC1.5 million to support postgraduate research work.

He noted that the Scholarship Secretariat that is in charge of the money, is waiting for GRASAG to commence the application process right after the launch of the research fund for disbursement to commence.
“Let me place emphasis on the fact that, preparations are far advanced to formally launch the GRTF, unveil the board and the logo. The formal launch of the GRTF will give way to the opening of the application process for the President’s Graduate Research Support Scheme.
“This is a good time to feel proud as a member of GRASAG. Your national leadership is working hard to serve your interest,” he told the senate.

Achievement

Mr Sagoe also used the opportunity to highlight some achievement made by the current leadership of GRASAG.
This include the successful renewal of the Association’s registration at the Registrar General’s department and registration under the National Youth Authority as a student-led non-profit non-partisan organisation aimed at promoting the welfare and wellbeing of its postgraduate students. The association is also in contention of being appointed as members of the board on the Ghana Youth Federation Council and has been given slots on the Education Committee of the Scholarship Secretariat.

“We inherited an Association without a functional website and an operational office. We are glad to announce that the Association now has a functional website, and an office space for the national secretariat. Regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic, GRASAG remains the only national students’ association that is functional and working assiduously to serve the interest of its members,” he added.