Regional News of Friday, 4 February 2005

Source: GNA

Help curb dropout, teenage pregnancy - Chief

Gomoa Nkran (C/R), Feb 4, GNA - Nana Ogyedom Kojo Anamoah Ababio II, Adontenhene of Gomoa Nkran has called on citizens of the Gomoa District to help find a lasting solution to the increasing number of teenage pregnancies and school dropouts in the area.

He said serious efforts must be made to tackle the problem to improve the quality of life in the district.

Nana Ababio known in private life as Mr Ebo Nyakoh-Koomson, Principal Accounts Officer of the Controller and Accountant General Department, said everything possible should be done to make education the priority.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency after his installation, which coincided with the climax of the Annual Akwambo Festival, the Adontenhene promised to mobilise all available resources to fight the "social canker".

Nana Ababio appealed to parents to send their children especially the girls to school since education was the only way to reduce poverty in the district.

He advised Akwambo Festival Planning Committees to desist from using children in their activities during school hours.

Children were made to stop going to school to participate in activities preceding the festival, he noted and called on the chiefs and School Management Committees to liase with the District Education Directorate to find a solution to the problem.

Ms Joyce Aidoo, Acting Gomoa District Chief Executive called on the people in the district to embrace the National Health Insurance Scheme to enhance the quality health services in the area.

She said the District Assembly had provided many facilities to promote quality teaching and learning.

Ms Aidoo urged the people especially the youth to guard against indiscriminate sex to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS in the district. Nana Ayebaw Mbir, Chief of Gomoa Nkran, called on parents to provide their children with their needs and to ensure that they attended school.

He appealed to citizens of the town resident outside to visit home regularly and to contribute towards the development of the area.