Jirapa (UWR), Dec.31, GNA - Some school children in the Jirapa District have commended President John Atta Mills and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government for initiating policies and programmes that are impacting positively on their welfare and development. The children mentioned the capitation grant, school feeding programme, the free school uniform and textbooks programmes and the construction of school buildings as some of the interventions. Master Elijah Bayor of the Saint Anthony's Model Junior High School made the commendation on behalf of the pupils at the President's End of Year Party for children held in Jirapa.

He noted however that despite those laudable interventions, a lot more was still required of the government to promote the overall development of children in the country.

He mentioned child trafficking, child labour and abuse; elopement, female genital mutilation and some negative traditional practices which were still in practice and which were undermining the development of children and needed to be addressed.

President Mills in a speech read on his behalf by the Upper West Regional Minister, Mr. Mahmud Khalid, urged children in the country to strive early in life to develop discipline as the essential principle of life.

He said a disciplined youth has a lot of hope for the nation and urged children to grow up to love Ghana and be the patriots that the founders of Ghana wished for.

"My message on this day expresses the hope and demand for excellence from the children and youth of the continent of Ghana and Africa. I am looking forward to you the children and youth of Ghana aspiring for excellence in your daily endeavours", President Mills said. He said the social, political and economic advancement of any nation could not meaningfully take off without considering the development of children within the national human resource development framework. President Mills said it was government's vision to create a just, humane and prosperous society in which individuals, especially children, as well as groups were empowered to pursue their legitimate goals to realize their full potential and contribute to the development of the nation.