The Member of Parliament (MP) for Sissala East, Hon. Mohammed Issah Bataglia, has officially launched the Bataglia Educational Support Scheme (BESS) to provide scholarships and skills training opportunities for students, artisans, and individuals interested in technical and vocational education.

The scheme, which was launched on Thursday, September 18, 2025, in Tumu, is aimed at promoting education and skills development in the constituency by supporting needy but brilliant students as well as persons who wish to acquire employable skills.

As part of the launch, Hon. Bataglia announced a personal donation of GH¢300,000 to the fund. The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Hon Bening Adamu Yakubu also contributed GH¢50,000, while additional support came from the public through silver collections and pledges totaling GH¢3,895. Chief Sanda Kodimah made an undisclosed donation, while the Youth Movement of the NDC in Sissala Land contributed GH¢1,000.

The event brought together a wide cross-section of the community, including the Municipal Director of Education, the Principals of Tumu College of Education and Tumu Midwifery College, heads of institutions, revered traditional leaders, invited guests, development partners, the media, and residents of Sissala East.

Speaking at the launch, Hon. Bataglia described the initiative as both “a moment of celebration and responsibility,” emphasizing that the goal is to establish a legacy in which no child from Sissala East is denied the opportunity to learn, rise, and lead.

Citing the 2021 Population and Housing Census, he noted that only 54.14% of persons aged 11 years and above in Sissala East are literate, compared to nearly 70% nationally. This, he said, makes many hardworking young people vulnerable to unemployment, unsafe migration, and precarious livelihoods.

“But today, we say with one voice: this is not the destiny of Sissala East. The Bataglia Educational Support Scheme (BESS) is a bold and deliberate response to this challenge. It is not charity; it is empowerment. It is not temporary relief; it is long-term transformation,” he declared.

Hon. Bataglia outlined that BESS will not only sponsor students to pursue higher education but will also focus on equipping the youth with relevant and employable skills. The scheme will extend support to areas such as health sciences, law, engineering, information technology, artificial intelligence, artisanal trades, and emerging industries. Beyond financial assistance, it will also provide mentorship, career guidance, and psychosocial support.

He further explained that the scheme has been structured to guarantee transparency and sustainability. A Governing Council will provide overall policy direction, a Support and Selection Committee will vet and select beneficiaries on merit and need, while an Operational Secretariat will oversee daily administration and reporting.

On funding sustainability, BESS will rely on a diversified model including seed capital, corporate partnerships, constituency-level contributions, support from NGOs and development partners, diaspora and alumni engagement, and the creation of an endowment fund. Annual fundraising dinners will also be held to strengthen financial support.

“Distinguished guests, BESS is more than an educational support scheme. It is a skills and development framework. Let us therefore embrace it not only as an educational scheme, but as a transformational agenda and turn our constituency into a model of how education and skills can change a people’s story,” Hon. Bataglia said.

He stressed that the scheme belongs to the people of Sissala East and called on all stakeholders to protect and sustain it.

“My dear people, this scheme does not belong to me; it belongs to Sissala East. It is a covenant we are making with our youth. And I have no doubt that with unity, transparency, and commitment, BESS will stand as a model for how a community can lift itself through education and skills,” he concluded.

Source: Sissala Radio