Kumasi, April 1, GNA- The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) is to provide at least one computer learning centre for use by schools in each of its 10 sub-metros as part of a programme to make all school children in the Metropolis computer literate. Already five of such computer learning centres are being set up at New Asafo, Yaa Akyiaa Girls, State Girls, Asem and New Tafo M/A Schools in the Metropolis.

Mr Maxwell Kofi Jumah, the Metropolitan Chief Executive met the various Kumasi Area Unions (Kroye Kuo) in Toronto, Canada to plan how best they could assist the centres with computers and other accessories. A statement issued in Kumasi on Thursday said, the meeting held at the Al Curuba Banquet Hall in Toronto was attended by a large number of people formerly staying at some of the Kumasi suburbs including Asafo, Ashtown, Asuoyeboa, Amakom and Bantama.

The statement said Mr Jumah told the gathering that though he was in Canada for a partnership programme at the invitation of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), he decided to meet as many Ghanaian Associations as possible to impress upon them the need to take active part in development of Kumasi Metropolis. He urged the Unions in Canada to assist the Assembly to pursue its vision of making every school child computer literate.

"The KMA pledges to bear the full cost of freight and clearing of any computer or educational materials shipped by Ghanaians abroad for schools in Kumasi from the ports so that all that you need to do is to ship them to us", the statement said. Mr Jumah said individuals who are desirous of assisting their alma maters could also ship items through the KMA and "they would be cleared at the cost of the Assembly for presentation to the assigned schools".

The statement said Nana Boahen, Ghana's Consular-General for Toronto, who was present at the meeting, urged Ghanaians abroad to explore investment avenues back home and identify possible areas of assistance to their old schools. He said there has been a dramatic increase in the number of Ghanaians who are willing to return home to contribute their quota to the development of the country due to the improving economic and political climate in Ghana.

Mr K. Adubofour, a PHD student of York University, Toronto, donated 70 Central Processing Unit, 90 monitors, two printers and a fax machine to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly towards its computer literacy centre project.