Mr Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, has expressed worry about the high rate of immorality that has engulfed most students and tutors of the Asesewa Senior High School (SHS) in the Upper Manya Krobo District.

“Allegations and rumours of sexual escapades, including criminal abortions by some female students are being bandied all over town and even beyond”.

Mr Terlabi, who was addressing the fifth speech and prize giving day of the school at the weekend, noted that most students were often seen loitering in town in the night instead of being in school.

He charged the governing board, the school administration and the student leadership to find a quick solution to those problems before the school’s image got tarnished.

“You should know that you are here to learn in order to have a bright future. If you allow these things to control you, you may end up with a bleak future”.

Mr Terlabi appealed to the teachers to put in their best despite the difficult conditions they faced.

He indicated that the government was not oblivious to the problems and challenges confronting them, and would come to their assistance in finding solutions to the problems facing the school.

The Deputy Regional Minister implored the authorities of the school to have a listening ear for the tutors and engage them in fruitful discussions whenever they brought up their problems so that they could have the peace of mind to teach.

Mr Terlabi noted with satisfaction that in the midst of all the challenges facing the school, it had consistently produced very good grades at the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSE).

He gave the assurance that the government would not turn a blind eye to the needs of the school adding “Government is aware that this school serves a very large number of school children from many places including deprived communities and has therefore decided to provide some of the needed facilities for the school”.

“The government has undertaken the construction of a 12-unit classroom block for the school at a cost GHc481,733.62, while a three-storey dormitory block estimated to cost GHc700,000.00 is also under construction”.

Mr Terlabi noted that a dining hall and a modern kitchen are also under construction at a cost of GHc656,000.00.

He said the government had also started the construction of a modern two semi detached teachers bungalows at a cost of GHc180,000.00 for the hardworking teachers to enable them to deliver their best.

Mr Samuel Gyebi Yeboah, headmaster of the school, appealed to the government to continue to support deprived schools to expand since the already endowed ones could not admit all the students in the country.

Prizes were later distributed to students who excelled academically.**