Accra, Jul 27, GNA - All Basic School structures under construction within the Ashiedu Keteke Sub-Metropolitan Area are to be completed before the next academic year to end the shift system.

This was stated by the Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Mr. Alfred Oko Vanderpuye, when he launched activities to mark the 80th anniversary of the Richard Akwei Memorial School at Ayalolo in Accra on Tuesday.

The Mayor of Accra noted that even though Basic Schools in the area faced a lot of challenges, 93In every challenge comes opportunities to turn things around", he said.

He stressed the determination of the AMA to be counted among institutions that contributed to nation building to ensure that every child of school going age had at least eight hours of school work a day.

Mr. Vanderpuye described education as the key for development and said no child should be left out lest she or he became non-competitive in the modern world.

He paid tribute to pioneers in the provision of education and community development and said the Assembly was determined to ensure that the School maintained its status as a great institution that had produced many outstanding personalities.

The Member of Parliament for Odododiodioo, Mr. Jonathan Nii Tackie-Komme, said education was the cornerstone for the empowerment of the people to take advantage of opportunities.

He gave the assurance that work on paving the school compound was to begin soon and said he was going to provide some educational institutions in the area including the Akwei Memorial School with water reservoirs(poly tanks) from his share of the Common Fund to help solve their water problems.

Mr. Tackie-Komme stressed his determination to complete a three-classroom block he initiated and to assist in solving some of the problems of the School to promote teaching and learning.

The Deputy Metropolitan Director of Education, Madam Juliana Akong, called on parents and guardians to invest in the education of their children and wards and to support the government to make the country's educational policy successful.

She called on them as role models to exhibit morals worthy of emulation by their children and wards to prepare them for the future as responsible citizens.

The Headmistress, Madam Emelia Larbi, enumerated the problems of the school including a dusty compound and the lack of potable water.

She appealed for assistance to expand the Computer Laboratory, which currently is equipped with only eight computers for the over 900 pupils.

Madam Larbi outlined activities for the week-long celebration, which include a clean-up exercise, a home-coming of old pupils, a candlelight procession, a quiz competition, an art and craft exhibition, a speech and prize-giving day and a church service.

The Manager of the Korle Dudor Branch of the Standard Chartered Bank, Mr. Theo Ahafianyo, handed over the re-painted school building by the financial institution to the authorities.

He announced an arrangement between the Bank and the Graphic Company to supply the Junior Graphic newspaper to the School to inculcate the habit of reading in the pupils.

A son of the founder of the School, Mr. Richard Akwei, gave a brief history of the establishment of the School on first October 1930.

The Chairman of the Ashiedu Keteke Sub-Metropolitan District Council, Mr. Adjebu Lamptey, who presided, said he would liaise with the Chairmen of the School Management Committee and Parent Teachers Association, Mr. Daniel Okai and Mr. Samuel Armah respectively, to ensure the execution of projects on the compound and provide the School with security.