Mr James Gunu, Akatsi North District Chief Executive, has admonished parents and guardians in the district, to restrain their children from becoming “chief mourners.”

He was inaugurating a six-classroom school complex and a place of convenience for the basic school at Atsata–Bame.

Mr Gunu also cut the sod for a 10-unit teachers quarters’ project, initiated by the community, as part of activities for the 17th Annual Denyaza Festival, to raise funds for development.

He asserted that the major cause of teenage pregnancy, school drop-out, and academic decline at the basic level in the district, could be blamed on pupils’ attendance at funerals.

“We cannot sit aloof as if nothing is happening regarding the issue of ‘child chief mourners,’ at our funerals at nights,” he pointed out.

Mr. Gunu observed that with concerted efforts by stakeholders no school scored zero percent in the last Basic Education Certificate Examinations in the district, whereas six schools scored zero percent the previous year.

He commended the pioneer-group of BECE candidates from Atsata-Bame for securing 100% in last year’s examinations, with some overall excellent individual grades, and urged subsequent batches to maintain those records.

Mr. Gunu donated 50 bags of cement to the community for a teachers’ bungalow project, and commended the people for their communal spirit.