Abuesi (W/R), May 26, GNA - Mr. Gabriel K. Essilfie, a 58-year- old consultant and aspiring National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Shama, said the high school drop out rate, low education standards and rising teenage pregnancy in the constituency was alarming. "We cannot effectively develop an area if these social vices are allowed to continually confront us without any remedy," he said. Mr. Essilfie, who was speaking at a campaign rally at Abuesi at the weekend, pledged to make education his priority when elected. He said scholarships, teaching and learning materials, computers and other educational materials would be provided for brilliant but needy students and pupils.

Mr. Essilfie said it was sad that the beaches, river bodies and eco system have been destroyed through indiscriminate waste disposal and poor environmental sanitation along the beaches.

He said the beaches that could serve as tourist attractions had been turned into places of convenience by fishing communities in the constituency.

Mr. Essilfie said there was the need to coerce strategic investors and inhabitants to invest in keeping the beaches clean at all times.

"We need to work to attract tourists to boost our local economies and improve the lot of our people" he said. Mr. Essilfie said he would soon establish a skills training centre for the youth.