Akim Oda (E/R), March 6, GNA - As part of the country's 53rd Independence Anniversary celebration themed: "Investing in the Youth for a Better Ghana", the Birim Central Municipal amounted a parade of 960 children from 32 schools and other groups including trade associations. Mr. Okoffo-Buadi Boampong, Municipal Coordinating Director who was assisted by Mr. David Afram, Director of Education, and Superintendent Wisdom Akorli, Divisional Commander of Police, to take the salute on behalf of Mr. Ofosu Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister and Acting Municipal Chief Executive.

In a speech read for him, Mr. Ofosu Ampofo stated that the Regional Coordinating Council received 4,809,004 exercise books of various types for free distribution to public schools in the region. "In addition, free education for disable children and refurbishment of science resource centres, were introduced to help enhance the quality of education for all".

He stated further that the removal of schools under trees and the elimination of the school shift system were among measures to put in place to ensure that they are given the best of education.

Mr. Ofosu Ampofo regretted that despite these good interventions of government and parents to see the children strive, most of them are into social vices and therefore advised them to shun such negative tendencies. The Regional Minister explained that the theme for the anniversary was carefully chosen in recognition of the central role played by the youth in the history of the country's development.

He noted that children often take after their parents as role models, no matter how bad or good they are adding, it therefore behoves on parents to live exemplary lives for their children to emulate.

He called on the people of the municipality to pay greater attention to environmental issues which, according to him, had become a major concern not only to the central government but also the rural communities. At the end of the march past at Akim Oda, the Attafuah Senior High Secondary/Technical School placed first, while Oda Senior High School and Akim State College took the second and third positions respectively. Mrs. Janet Korankyewaa, Assembly Member for Akim Asene, read the anniversary speech for the Eastern Regional Minister. Nana Amoah Dadom, Gyasehene of Asene, prayed that the 53 years of Independence from the British colonial rule should spur school children on to have a bright future. 6 March 10