Kumasi, Aug 13, GNA - Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has called on traditional authorities and religious organisations to play a leading role in the provision of quality education to children.

He said chieftaincy and religion unlike government, were permanent institutions and there was therefore the need for them to ensure that adequate educational infrastructure were provided to enable children to acquire quality education in order to play a meaningful role in society in future.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu made the call in Kumasi on Thursday when the management of the Afihene Prudent Foundation presented two million cedis scholarship to four secondary school students and a trainee nurse at a ceremony at the Manhyia Palace.

The Foundation, which was established by Mr I.K. Yeboah Afihene, a renowned industrialist and Managing Director of Yeboah Afihene Industries in Kumasi, is to provide financial assistance to needy but brilliant students and pupils in support of the efforts being made by the Asantehene to promote education.

The beneficiary students were Miss Lucy Oteng of the Kumasi Nurses Training College, Veronica Owusu Konama, Saint Louis Secondary School, Diana Naa Ayorkor Kussachin, Saint Monica's Secondary School at Asante-Mampong, Master Louis Oteng Gyimah of Prempeh College and Oscar Kwaku Okyere of Opoku Ware Secondary School.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu expressed regret that some chiefs were not able to collect the 200 cedis contributions from their subjects towards the Otumfuo Education Fund as he had directed since the establishment of the Fund.

He said education improved the quality of life of the individual while at the same time made him competent and skilful enough to perform whatever task assigned to him.

The Asantehene commended Mr Afihene for the initiative and charged other companies and individuals to emulate the gesture. Mr Kwame Yeboah Afihene, Manager of the Fund, who presented the money on behalf of his father, expressed the hope that the money would help alleviate some of the financial burdens facing the beneficiary students.