General News of Monday, 26 May 2008

Source: GNA

Chief sets up fund for Catholic University

Sunyani, May 26, GNA - Mr. Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, Brong- Ahafo Regional Minister, has appealed to chiefs and people of the region to focus on issues that would help reduce poverty and illiteracy. He said the government alone could not bear that responsibility hence the need for chiefs and people to encourage, especially the youth, to be focused on their education.

Mr Baffour-Awuah said this at the 10th anniversary celebration of enstoolment of the Sanaahene of Sunyani Traditional Area in Sunyani. The anniversary was aimed at raising funds for "The Sanaahene Scholarship Scheme" to help needy students who excel at the Faculty of Public Health and Allied Science at the Catholic University College at Fiapre.

Mr. Baffour-Awuah lauded the efforts of the traditional council in promoting education and appealed to other chiefs to do their best in the development of their communities.

He donated GHC 500 and pledged to pay GHC 200 monthly towards the scheme and appealed to churches, NGOs, individuals and philanthropists to collaborate with the traditional council in supporting the scheme. Nana Tabiri Ampem Kyeremeh II, Sanaahene of Sunyani Traditional Area, said his interactions with students, lecturers and the university administration revealed that most people could not have access to education due to financial problems and the scheme was the only way to help such people.

He appealed to the public to contribute to the scholarship scheme, saying contributions would go into a fund that would be managed by a scholarship committee to be supervised by the Vice-Chancellor of the university.

Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri II, Omanhene of Sunyani Traditional Area, urged chiefs and families to resolve any differences amongst them with regards to enstoolment of chiefs to enable the region to continue to enjoy peace and stability.

He advised people in the municipality who had acquired plots of land for residential and other purposes not to build houses haphazardly but to follow laid out rules and regulations. "Those who have put structures at unauthorized places should remove them to beautify the city," he said. Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri appealed to politicians to conduct their campaigns devoid of insults, intimidation and antagonism and to concentrate on issues that would accelerate national development. 25 May 08