Ho, March 1, GNA-Government has stressed the need for giving girls the needed education in the country.

"A nation that ignores the education of its female population can hardly have a firm ground for its future development", Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Education Youth and Sports said at the weekend. He said that "with the great strides that women of today are making in every sphere of life, who could dispute the famous Dr. Kwegyir Aggrey's saying that 'women form the bedrock of nation building". The Minister was speaking at the Golden Jubilee of the Ola Secondary School in Ho.

The Jubilee had the theme "Fifty Years of Holistic Girls' Education, Challenges For The Future".

Most Reverend Francis Lodunu, Bishop of the Ho Diocese praised late Bishop Anthony Konings who nurtured, and planted the idea and Sister Mary Theodorus Fahy for her pioneering role as the first Headmistress of the school.

Mrs Theresa Kufuor, First Lady who was the guest of honour said steps by government to increase girls access to education and better the lot of women in general would go to complement the vision of the founding Fathers and Mothers of OLA.

The First Lady who was a past pupil of the Convent Boarding School for Girls where OLA started said "today women who take advantage of opportunities offered them rub shoulders with their male counterparts in administration, politics, legal practice, medicine and aviation in addition to their traditional role of being excellent managers of the home and taking care of the children".

She acknowledged the positive contribution of the Catholic Church and other Churches in Education and Health in the country. The presence of Sisters Mary O'Driscoll also known as Mary Pius, Mary Connaughton both expatriates and Regina Kampo, a Ghanaian, all past Headmistresses, created excitement among the old students. Mrs Philomena Afeti, headmistress of the school said there was the need for extensive rehabilitation of classrooms and dormitories, a playing field and staff accommodation.

OLA Secondary School over the years had built a reputation for its self as a school, which ensured strict discipline among its students.