Issahaku Martin, a class one pupil of the Lamashegu Experimental Primary ’A’, on Tuesday, expressed his desire to be like President John Dramani Mahama in future.
Whiles his colleagues aspired to be doctors, journalists and teachers, little Issahaku got up and with an infectious smile told the Deputy Northern Regional Minister and his entourage that “I want to be President Mahama in future”.
He was responding to a question posed by the Deputy Northern Regional, Minster Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini, about his future ambition when the Minister was visiting the school to interact with kids who reported in school for the first time dubbed: “My First Day at School”.
The day is observed on the first day of the new academic year of basic education schools throughout the country.
The four schools the Minister visited included Lamashegu ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’ Experimental Schools, as well as Central Zaharia Complex, all in the Tamale Metropolis, where 200 new pupils had reported as at mid-day.
Little Issahaku’s answer made the Minister and his entourage burst into laughter while the little boy in confidence repeated what he had said.
Ahaji Fuseini said the occasion was meant to encourage children of school-going age, who are not in school, to go to school to increase enrolment at the basic level, whip up the enthusiasm among the pupils and encourage them to stay in school.
“The beginning of everything in life is not easy, and children find new places strange, hence the need for the visit to motivate them to stay in school”, he said.
Alhaji Fusieni expressed government’s readiness to improve upon the infrastructure deficit of schools in the country to create a conducive environment for teaching and learning.
He commended Little Issahaku for the great dream saying, “The Good Book says heaven helps those who help themselves and with this big dream alone you have already made it in life”.
He said with determination, resilience and hard work, the little boy’s dream can come true and gave the assurance that he will try as much as possible to monitor the boy’s progress.
Mr Paul Apanga, Northern Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service, said the occasion would offer the children the opportunity to interact with others and pick up certain concepts, which would lead and shape them.
He called on stakeholders, especially traditional leaders and the Parent/Teacher Associations (PTAs), to join in welcoming the children and congratulate them on their quest to gain knowledge.
Mr Apanga expressed satisfaction with the enrollment and urged all teachers to be responsible, role models, hardworking and stick to instructional time to ensure the provision of quality teaching and learning.