Enyan Obontser (C/R), Jan 28, GNA - The Mankessim Programme Area of the Plan Ghana, a child-centred development international non-governmental organisation (NGO), has provided stationery worth about 15,000 Ghana cedis for schools under its sponsorship.

Sixteen schools in Mfantseman Municipality, Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese, and Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam districts benefited from the package which formed part of the NGO's programme to help children to have access to quality education.

Mr Sulemana Gbana, Programme Area Manager, said as much as Plan Ghana was prepared to support projects which could help in development of children, the willingness and co-operation of the people of the community would be a determining factor for such assistance. He urged communities to regard whatever the organization had provided as their own property which they should take good care of. Mr Gbana said sponsorship of needy children by their foreign partners which is their main source of income had suffered a setback due to the global economic crisis.

Some of our sponsors had lost their jobs due to the crisis and are unable to continue with the sponsorship.

The Manager said due to the setback, the organization was putting in place a programme to encourage local sponsorship and appealed to Ghanaians to co-operate.

Mr Michael Akurang Opoku, Deputy Co-ordinating Director of Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District Assembly, advised parents to invest in the education of their children. "Support from donor partners like Plan Ghana and the capitation grant must not be seen as replacement of parents' responsibilities," he said.

Nana Sakyi Akomea VI, Chief of Obontser, expressed gratitude to Plan Ghana for the numerous assistance it had provided for the town. Furniture provided by the organisation for the town's kindergarten at a cost of 3,485 Ghana cedis was also handed over to the community.