Manso-Nkwanta (Ash), Feb. 7, GNA- A project aimed at supporting girl-child enrolment and retention in school in some selected primary schools in the Amansie West district has been launched at Manso-Nkwanta. Beneficiary communities included Nsiana, Pakyi No2, Bebuabo, Essuowin, Abore, Aponapon, Adubia, Manso-Nkwanta Datano, Bonsaaso, Abuoso, Morho, Subinso-Kwabenaso and Nipankyeremia all in the district. Speaking at the launch, Mr Bright Wireko-Brobbey, Project Director, said the Regal Project Care International, a non-sectarian and gender sensitive non-governmental organisation (NGO), working in over 60 countries across the world, would sponsor the project, which it initiated.

He said the objectives of the project included the creation of conducive environment for learning for girls as well as facilitation of community and institutional commitments for girls' education. Mr Wireko-Brobbey said apart from strategies such as community mobilisation and the development of action plans in support of goals, the project also sought to support capacity building for stakeholders and facilitators such as teachers, school management committees and parent-teacher associations.

In a speech read for him, Mr Ben Kwakye-Adeefe, the District Chief Executive for Amansie West, thanked the NGO for initiating the programme.

He said the district assembly has constructed 75 school buildings, teachers' quarters since 2002, and awarded scholarships to needy but brilliant students in the district to enable them further their education.

Mrs Beatrice Boakye-Ansah Prempeh, the District Director of Education, also commended the NGO for its efforts. He said the NGO's initiative reflected the wise assertion of Dr Kwegir Aggrey that "if you educate a man, you educate an individual but if you educate a woman you educate a nation".