Regional News of Monday, 27 June 2011

Source: GNA

Govt must consider scholarships for students in orphanages

Bawjiase (C/R), June 27, GNA - Mrs Emma Boafo Yeboah, Founder of the Countryside Orphanage at Bawjiase has appealed to the government pay the fees of children in orphanages at the senior high and tertiary levels of education.

This, she said, would relieve the management of the orphanages the burden of paying fees.

She made the appeal when the Family Life Education Club (FLEC) of the Mfantsiman Girls Senior High School donated assorted items valued about GH¢1,500 to the institution.

Mrs Yeboah said 13 out of the 140 children at the Orphanage were in Senior High Schools, three in Polytechnics, one in a Nursing Training School, while two were seeking admission to the University of Development Studies.

She further appealed to the government to take over the payment of utility bills for orphanages.

She said the bills had been draining their resources. "As present, the home owes GH¢1,200 in electricity bills and GH¢400.00 for water," she complained.

She also appealed to the Ghana Education Service to supply the inmates with books and stationery.

Addressing the inmates of the orphanage, Miss Pearl Abbey-Mensah, President of the Club, said it was formed to bring up the youth to become responsible adults and also teach them to reach out to the needy.

Miss Abbey-Mensah assured the management of the Orphanage that the Club would make the visit a regular feature to as much as possible support the management in caring the unfortunate inmates.

The donation includes stationery, grocery and clothing. Miss Yowome Gbetanu, a tutor of the School and a Patron of the Club, expressed concern about women who abandoned their babies after going through the trauma associated with pregnancy.

She commended the management of the Orphanage for the good work they were doing to support the children.