General News of Tuesday, 25 November 2008

Source: GNA

NDC would address challenges facing education-Mahama

Winneba (C/R), Nov. 25, GNA - Mr John Dramani Mahama, National Democratic Congress (NDC) vice presidential candidate on Monday said a government of the NDC will address challenges confronting education. "The high school fees, accommodation problems, inadequate accommodation facilities, insufficient student loan, and problems hindering the promotion of education would be solved to make education accessible to every Ghanaian child.

Mr Mahama said this when he addressed an NDC rally at Winneba. He said the NDC recognized education as one of the pillars of the country's development hence during its regime, it established cost sharing programme to enable the future leaders further their education. Mr Mahama said they would also grant study leave with pay to qualified teachers regardless of tribal and political affiliations. According to Mr Mahama when the NDC "handed power to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) peacefully they have turned everything that we put in place to strengthen education sector down". He said it is about time Ghanaians voted the NDC back to power because it is 'a party with vision which cares and could be trusted to resuscitate the economy and build a better Ghana.

Mr Mahama urged supporters of the party that success did not come by chance but by hard work and determination. Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Member of Parliament for Tamale South, advised Ghanaians to come out massively on December 7, to vote for the NDC. He said the NPP has nothing good to offer Ghanaians and therefore must be voted out to give way for the NDC to properly manage the country.

Mr Mike Allan Hammah, NDC parliamentary candidate for Effutu appealed to the people to return him to power to continue with his developmental plans for the area. Mr Remus Kofi Zoryiku, President of the University of Education, Winneba branch of the Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) in his welcoming address called on "Ghanaians especially teachers to vote the NPP government out of power for it has no meaningful plan for their future".

Mr Zoryiku assured teachers that a government under Prof Atta Mills would ensure regular and timely payment of their salaries and do away with unjust deductions. Mr Mahama and his entourage paid a courtesy call on the Omanhene of Effutu Traditional Area, Neeyi Ghartey VII at his palace and the Chief of Zongo Community. Earlier thousands of NDC supporters dressed in party paraphernalia caused about three hours traffic halt, during a fanfare to lead Mr. Mahama and his entourage to the rally ground.