Regional News of Tuesday, 28 October 2003

Source: GNA

Government votes 2.8 billion cedis for road construction

Ogbolu (E/R), Oct. 28, GNA- The Government has released 2.8 billion cedis for the construction of a number feeder roads in the Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar District.

The District Chief Executive, Mr Michael Kofi Mensah, said this at a durbar of chiefs and people of Ogbolu near Suhum in the Eastern Region.

He said the roads are being constructed because they are linked to the food growing areas.

Mr Mensah said the project forms part of the government's commitment to open up the rural areas to raise the living standards of the people.

Mr Emmanuel Nartey, a spokesperson for the community and who is also secretary to the School Management Committee (SMC), said pupils of the Ogbolu Junior Secondary School for the past five years had scored zero percent in the BECE.

Mr Nartey attributed the poor performance of the school to the inability of parents to pay their wards' fees.

This compels the children to abandon classes especially on market days to do basket weaving, carrying of loads, and distilling "Akpeteshie" a local gin.

He said the same parents later turned to blame teachers for being the cause of their wards failure.

The Member for Parliament for Ayensuano, Mr Godfried Okyere, expressed concern about the report and said he would not hesitate to call on the GES to withdraw the teachers from the communities whose parents fail to ensure the well being of their children.

The Assemblyman for the area, Mr Adu Ofosu, has pledged to pay the school fees for 30 pupils of classes one and two of the school for the next two years.

The Old Students Association donated 500 note one exercise books to pupils of the school.