...for their contribution towards nation building
Accra, July 2, GNA - The Old Vandals Association, the alumni of Commonwealth Hall of the University of Ghana on Saturday honoured twelve Ghanaians for their tremendous contributions to society and the maintenance of the Hall at a grand durbar in Accra.

They include Justice George Kingsley Acquah, Chief Justice, Mr. Peter Nanfuri, Former Inspector General of Police, Nana Owusu-Nsiah, immediate former Inspector General of Police, Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, former Minister of State, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of the Asogli Traditional Areas.

Others are Mr Giddy Laryea of Media Magique, Mr Stephen Sedofu, Mr Kwame Sarpong Chief Executive Cocobod, Mr Kofi Dua-Adonteng and Mr Yaw Boadu Ayeboafoh, Editor, Daily Graphic.

The durbar is part of the Hall's Republic Day jamboree and mini homecoming intended to honour some outstanding members and any other alumnus, who may not be an old vandal but was offering great service to the country.

It is also part of the preparation towards the climax of the Halls golden jubilee celebration in 2007.

Mr. Harry Akossah, Hall Master, in a report said misrepresentation of vandalism, misdirected youthful exuberance and incongruous interpretation and understanding of the tenets of vandalism are the main issues causing great indiscipline in the hall. He said more than one third of the student membership of the Hall, which has a total of 3,646 students, 1,351 resident and 2,265 non-resident had biological or other links with Old Vandals, adding that it was about time Old Vandals strengthened their individual roles as parents and guardians to support the teachers and caretakers to tone down the level of indiscipline.

Mr Akossah said, apart from this, few new endowment funds, including the Felix Addo Fund for Best Student, Edusei Derkyi for Best cross country runner, Kwame Asante for Best B.Science Administrative student, Nketia Sarpong for most active student and the Alhaji Razak Fund for needy and progressive student had been instituted by some Old Vandals.

He said a contract for rewiring the Hall was 90 percent complete and expressed the hope that the contractors would quickly complete it to bring to an end the periodic electrical problems facing the Hall. Togbe Afede XIV said the fate of the country's roads, poverty and disease were not allowing enough funds to go into education, which is paramount and an essential ingredient in the development and success of the country.

He said security, law and order was the responsibility of chiefs in the past because they live with the people and close to them but it has become the responsibility of central government

He said, in order to enhance quality of education, stakeholders are trying to expand school infrastructure but the challenge was very great, adding that various chiefs have also established funds to support the education of needy but brilliant students.

He called for the abolition of certain traditional practices, which were abusive to the rights of the people, mentioning especially girls who should be allowed to go to school and not be made to go through such practices, which do not help them. He said people should learn to live independent lives and not to rely on relations for their survival, adding that, that was the essence of education, which is aimed at training people for further training to come out and face the world of work, in a responsible manner. He urged chiefs and elders to set good examples for the young ones to follow since the future belongs to the youth.

Togbe Afede announced the creation of a 30- million cedi Endowment Fund in support of the Library of the Commonwealth Hall. Mr Felix Addo, Chairman of Vandals City Annex Project said the association aims at raising an amount of four to five million dollars to complete its project, however it had only fifty million cedis in its account.

He said the project aims to develop a phase in 290 unit room capacity project to accommodate an estimated 1,200 students over a four year period and called on benevolent organisations to assist.