Dormaa Ahenkro (B/A) Jan 1 GNA - Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu 11, Omanhene of Dormaa Traditional Area at the weekend presented scholarships worth 31.6 million cedis to 110 needy but brilliant students in Dormaa district.

The package, which was made through the Dormaa Educational Endowment Fund, established about five years ago, covered beneficiaries from selected primary, junior secondary, senior secondary and tertiary students.

A committee set up by the traditional council determined the eligibility of the beneficiaries, who received the scholarships that ranged from 60,000 cedis each for the primary pupils and 500,000 cedis each for secondary and tertiary students for the 2005/6 academic year. Making the presentation at this year's end of year get together at the Abanpreduase palace at Dormaa Ahenkro, Osagyefo Agyeman Badu announced that a total of 650 students, made up of 421 males and 229 females had so far benefited from the fund.

He said as a side attraction of this year's presentation, the traditional council had also donated 100 bags of cement valued at 6.7 million cedis to assist in the construction of libraries in four senior secondary schools in the district.

The schools are Mansen Secondary, Wamanafo Sec/Tech, Aboabo Salvation Army Secondary and Nkrankwanta Sec. Tech Schools. The Omanhene reiterated the council's commitment to ensuring an improvement in the low standard of education in the area to befit its status.

Osagyefo Agyeman Badu commended groups and individuals who had contributed in diverse ways towards the sustenance of the Fund and underscored the enviable efforts of Dormaa citizens resident abroad. He appealed to the people to register for the National Health Insurance Scheme in order to have easy access to basic health care, which he said was a prerequisite for increased productivity.

The Omanhene paid a glowing tribute to poultry farmers in the area for providing employment for the youth and expressed the hope that the youth would take advantage of interventions by both the government and non-governmental bodies to improve their standard of living. Nana Danso Mensah, chairman of the Board of the Fund later in an interview with Ghana News Agency said problems faced in education in the district required a greater commitm ent of all citizens in addressing them for improved standards.

He appealed to both resident and non-resident Dormaa citizens who had not as yet made an input into the Fund to do so without hesitation to enable more students to benefit.

Among those present were Mr. Kwaku Agyeman Manu, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr. Ignatius Baffour Awuah, Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, the two MPs for the area, Mr Yaw Ntow Ababio and Mr. Yaw Asiedu Mensah and Assistant Commissioner of Police Opare Addo, Regional Police Commander.

Koforidua

The Superintendent Minister in-charge of the Adweso Calvary Methodist Church, near Koforidua, Very Rev. Christopher N. Andam, has observed despite prayers, Christians need to work continuously towards peace if the country is to enjoy some peace.

He said peace must prevail in the country if it is to develop and also for Christians to have the necessary conditions to practice their religious beliefs.

Very Rev. Andam who was preaching at a watch-night service at the Adweso-Koforidua Calvary Methodist Church on Saturday. He said it was only when there was peace in the country that there investment to offer jobs for the youth and advised Ghanaians not to allow politics and tribalism to divide them.

Very Rev. Andam called on Ghanaians to enter the 2006 with hope and rely on God for the guidance during the year.

Methodist Church celebrates New Year with service

Sunyani Jan 1, GNA - The Right Reverend James Baffour Awuah, Methodist Bishop of Sunyani on New Year's day urged Christians to see the birth of Christ as a new dispensation offered by God to mankind for a new life. "The celebration of the Yuletide is therefore the opportunity opened to all humankind and especially Christians to re-examine their lives, shed bad habits and attitudes and commit themselves for upright lives", he stated.

Bishop Baffour Awuah was preaching on "the Life of a Christian is a sacrifice" at a service at the Wesley Cathedral, which was filled to capacity with worshippers many of whom had to take seats outside the church hall.

He exhorted Christians to learn to sacrifice and eschew tendencies and practices that had given rise to quarrels, disputes, enmity, jealousy and other anti-social activities in the communities. "Remember that as Christians you will face challenges and tribulations and it is time for you examine your relationship with God, re-examine your lives and eschew immoral practices that can lead us into poverty and hunger for which we cannot blame anybody else but ourselves", the Bishop noted.

He advised Christians to surrender their lives to God and allow Him to mould them to become beacons of hope and glory.

Tema

The Senior Pastor of the Action Chapel at Tema, Reverend Samuel Boadi-Dankwa lastnight called on Ghanaians to lead credible lives that would go a long way to put value on the nation and her citizenship in order to win respect from the outside world. Delivering the sermon at Tema to usher in the New Year, he noted that our perception and attitude towards our lives and work would convince the foreigner to develop love for the nation and contribute in various ways to its growth.

He therefore, entreated Ghanaians to eschew negative tendencies such as laziness, and apathy and remain faithful and loyal to their dear nation by contributing positively towards its socio-economic growth. As nothing can be achieved without God's intervention, the Senior Pastor admonished Ghanaians to always seek the Lord's guidance and direction in their endeavours to ensure success.

He admonished the leadership of the nation to portray quality leadership skills worthy of emulation and work diligently to win the hearts of the people to justify their continued stay in governance. "If you are a politician and you serve your nation well, when the time comes for election the people will vote for you".

Rev. Boadi-Dankwa called on churches and the state to do their best to promote unity among Ghanaians devoid of tribalism so that with concerted efforts we live a good legacy for the next generation.

To ensure rapid progress of the country, he stressed the need for Ghanaians to respect their civic responsibility and by honouring their tax obligations to the state, which is channelled into development. He condemned the destruction of state properties in seeking redress to grievances saying "if almost 50 years after independence we still adopt to the crude ways of doing things then the nation would not progress."

Rev. Boadi-Dankwa therefore called for harsher punishment for those whose attitude infringe on the rights of others to serve as deterrent and referred to drivers who ignore the traffic regulations and drive recklessly to cause accidents killing passengers and those who liter environment indiscriminately.