Apam, July 20, GNA - The Gomoa District Assembly is to enact a by-law to ban the buying of special cloths for funerals in the district. Ms Joyce Aidoo, District Chief Executive, announced this at the passing out of the Primary six pupils of the Apam Faith Academy on Tuesday.

Ms Aidoo said the ban had become necessary due to the importance placed on such cloths at the expense of the education of their children. "While the child's school fees remains unpaid and exercise books and other learning materials not bought, parents, especially the mothers will move heaven and earth to buy a new cloth for the funeral of relatives or friends," the DCE noted.

The time has come for parents to set their priorities right by giving education the topmost attention because it is only through education that the people can come out of poverty, she added. Ms Aidoo appealed to parents to take keen interest in school activities and cautioned them against making schools the dumping ground for children.

She urged parents to encourage their children to learn. The DCE expressed sadness when the proprietor of the school Pastor Paul Kofi Morrison, in his report said some parents had withdrawn their children from the school because of the 15,000 cedis the school charged for computer studies per a term.

Pastor Morrison said some parents did not see the relevance of computer studies to their fishing industry. He said a permanent site has been acquired for the school, which was operating on a rented plot of land.

The proprietor appealed to parents to help the school to complete its permanent building, which was at the foundation level.