Akropong, Nov. 16, GNA- Dr Eugenia Danquah Quist, Akuapem North District Chief Executive, has lauded the sustained education on the HIV/AIDS pandemic as a means of protecting the youth, who formed the driving force of national productivity, from getting infected. She advised the youth not to yield to peer pressure to indulge in anti-social activities that could lead to the spread of the virus. Dr Quist said these in a speech read on her behalf, during a ceremony organised by the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) at Akropong, to award schools that took part in a music competition to create awareness on adolescent sexuality.

She observed that HIV/AIDS was a threat to the country's fledgling democracy since it attacked mainly the youth who are the future leaders of Ghana.

The programme was dubbed: "The Young and Wise Singing Competition". Okuapeman Secondary School emerged the first in the Southern Zone. The school was the Eastern Regional representative in the Zone, which comprised the Greater Accra; Western, Central and Volta Regions.

Sekondi College, which represented the Western Region placed second while Wesley Girls High School, representatives of the Central Region came third.

In the out of school group competition, Oguaa Youth Choir of Central Region, emerged winners.

All the award winners were presented with certificates and PPAG souvenirs.

Mrs Baaba Fleischer, Chairman of the Southern Zone of the PPAG, said the aim of the competition was to educate the youth on sexual and reproductive health.