Ekumfi Techiman (C/R), Dec 21, GNA - Plan Ghana, a child centred non-governmental organization, has provided some communities in the Mankessim Programme Area of the NGO with 33 pre-school blocks, 23 Junior High schools, two Senior High schools and 20 libraries as its contribution to education in the area. At least 1,500 pupils have also benefited from a scholarship scheme th= e NGO has instituted. Mfantseman Municipal Assembly, Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese and Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam Districts are the operation areas of the Mankessim Programme Area of the NGO.

Mr Suleman Gbana, the Programme Area Manager, said this at the handing-over ceremonies of two schools, a six-unit classroom, office, store= , library and computer centre for Ekumfi Techiman near Mankessim and a pre-school block for Etsii Bewora near Abeadze Dominase. The Ekumfi Techiman school was put up and furnished at a cost of GH¢104,644.00 with funds mobilized by Hobsons Company of the US, UK and Australia for Plan Ghana to implement the project. The Bewora pre-school project was funded by Letcher Family of the United Kingdom through Plan Ghana.

Mr Gbana expressed concern about sexual harassment of school children, especially girls by their peers, teachers and sometimes their own relatives= .. He said these shameful acts on the children had some adverse effect on their education making some to shun men during their adulthood.

Mr Gbana said Plan Ghana, realizing that infrastructure alone could no= t make a school and that children must be enrolled and retained, had launched a campaign dubbed 93learn without fear" to make children who had gone th= rough such experience to put them behind and forge ahead with their studies without fear.

Mr Kofi Aidoo, Principal Personnel Officer at the Mfantseman Municipal Assembly, expressed concern about the waning communal spirit of the people in the Municipality and said the Assembly had decided to support with materials communities that had initiated their own projects. He said reports had reached the Assembly that facilities financed by Plan Ghana and other donor agencies were not being properly maintained by the beneficiary communities and urged them to show their gratitude to the donors by taking very good care of the projects.

Madam Rose Otoo, Assistant Director of Education at the Municipal Directorate of Education, expressed the appreciation of the Municipal Education Directorate to Plan Ghana for its support for education. Nana Kweku Issah, the Regent of Ekumfi Techiman, appealed to Plan Ghan= a to provide the town with living quarters for teachers to enable them to sta= y in the town. Mr Peter Abakah, Deputy Manager, Islamic Education Unit, commended the collaboration between teachers and parents at Bewora that enabled the project to be completed in a record time. Nana Essel, Mbranthen of Bewora, appealed to Plan Ghana to help the town to rebuild its primary school block that a rainstorm destroyed.