Stanbic Bank has offered to support the 13-year-old street boy, Abdul Hakeem Alhassan Aremeyaw, who returned to the streets of Accra after having won an essay competition and represented Ghana in China.
The support will see the brilliant boy further his education in an environment which will enable him to realise his dream of becoming a pilot.
In addition, the bank has offered to set aside 50,000 cedis as seed capital to help deal with issues relating to streetism in the country.
“There are many Hakeems that this country must make good therefore we at Stanbic would like to initiate a study to get to the bottom of the problem of streetism. We are by this setting aside 50,000 cedis as seed capital for the study” Chief Executive of the bank, Alhassan Andani announced.
The bank’s intervention follows a Media General report on the boy. Many others have since expressed interest in supporting Hakeem with scholarships and donation of cash.
Stanbic Bank was key in getting Hakeem to China when he was selected last year as winner of the quiz which was for pupils below the age of 17 years as special dispensation to less endowed schools.
According to the bank, one of its staff offered to help Hakeem on his return from China, for which reason he occasionally visited the said staff for support, but somehow, ended up on the streets.
The bank said it has now engaged its partners, SOS Village, for Hakeem to be taken in for his education and care, something it said, has been finalised. The bank also revealed it has secured two additional slots for two of his friends.
According to the bank, the story of Hakeem has spurred some of the staff on to adopt children in similar situations, a plan it said would encourage the adoption many of such children.
