Dawu (E/R), Oct. 17, GNA - The Deputy Minister for Education and Sports, Mrs Angela Baiden-Amissah, has reiterated the need for communities to initiate their own projects, when there was the means, instead of waiting for government.

She, therefore, called on societies, clubs and individuals within communities to help in undertaking essential projects, which would be beneficial to the people to supplement government's effort. In a speech read on her behalf at the inauguration of a computer and library complex for the people of Dawu on Saturday, the Minister said such moves fastened the development of communities that took their own developmental initiatives.

The computer and library complex, which was built by the Dawu Friends Club at a cost of about 45 million cedis, had 23 computers and the compliment of library books.

She noted that the facility was the first of it's kind in the country and praised the Dawu Friends Club for their foresight. Mrs Baiden-Ammisah called on the people to utilize the facility effectively to ensure that it did not become a "white elephant" and called for the proper maintenance of the facility to prolong it's usage. The Country Director, U.S Peace Corps, Ghana, Madam Madeline Mader, who supported the project, said her outfit was interested in the development of the Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the country, hence, the funding for the project. She pledged the U.S Peace Corps' continued support for the Club on any project, which would improve the standard of education in the area. The Mankrado of the town, Nana Kumi Ababio, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Club for helping the town to realize a long time dream and promised the support of the traditional council in ensuring that the facility was well utilized.

The President of the Club, Mr Asare Larbi, said the project, which started two years ago, was to introduce the people of the area to ICT and thanked their partners, the U.S Peace Corps, for its immense support.

He appealed to parents in the area to stop lavish spending on funerals and other social functions and channel their resources towards the education of their children.

Mr Larbi hinted that the Club would from the end of this academic year, initiate an award scheme for the best three students in JSS to boost the morale of the children.

An appeal for funds yielded 14 million cedis to improve the facility.