Bekwai MP rewards top BECE performers as academic results improve
Member of Parliament for Bekwai, Ralph Poku-Adusei, has rewarded top-performing candidates in the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the constituency through his School Starter-Pack Scholarship (SSPS) programme.
The initiative was introduced to help address concerns about declining academic performance in the Bekwai Municipality by providing merit-based support to outstanding students from both public and private schools.
Five students were recognised as the overall top performers in the 2026 edition of the programme.
Owusu Adwoa Serwaa of Dominase M/A JHS, who obtained an aggregate 7, was named Overall Best Female Student from a public school, while Yamoah Bordom Benjamin of Bekwai APS JHS, with an aggregate 8, received the award for Overall Best Male Student from a public school.
In the private school category, Appiah Kubi Annabella and Frimpong Owusu Emmanuel, both of Amazing Grace JHS, were recognised as the Overall Best Female and Male Students respectively, after recording an aggregate 6.
Kingsley Owusu of Dominase M/A JHS was also honoured as the Best Student with a disability.
Each of the five overall winners received a laptop, Mackintosh mattress, plastic provibox, pillow and suitcase. In addition, the student with a disability will receive a GH¢2,000 educational scholarship per term from the MP throughout his Senior High School education.
Under the SSPS, the best graduating student from every public and private school in each community also receives a boarding starter pack containing a mattress, pillow, plastic provibox and suitcase.
The beneficiaries are selected by the Bekwai Municipal Education Directorate based on their BECE aggregate scores. In cases where candidates obtain the same aggregate, their raw scores are used to determine the final beneficiary.
Mr Poku-Adusei said the programme was intended as a merit-based intervention to encourage students to strive for academic excellence rather than operate as a conventional donation initiative.
The SSPS was introduced alongside the revival of the School Performance Appraisal Meeting (SPAM), which the MP funded across all 10 educational circuits in the constituency.
A stakeholder engagement organised in early 2025 identified several factors contributing to poor educational outcomes, including parental apathy, inadequate teacher motivation and supervision, student indiscipline, insufficient teaching and learning materials, and limited academic competition.
Mr Poku-Adusei stressed that improving educational outcomes requires more than infrastructure, highlighting the need for motivation, accountability and a supportive learning environment.
He has also announced plans for a Best Teacher Awards Scheme, which is currently being finalised.
A dedicated SSPS Board has been established to oversee the programme, including its selection process, benefits and transparency mechanisms.
The MP said his ambition is for the initiative to continue after his tenure and eventually attract support from individuals and corporate organisations to expand its reach.
He added that the long-term objective is to support beneficiaries through Senior High School and tertiary education while helping to develop professionals who will contribute to the growth of the Bekwai constituency.
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