Kumasi, Nov. 28, GNA - The Headmaster of Prempeh College, Mr Emmanuel Kwabena Yeboah, has appealed to government to help revamp and modernize the science laboratory of the College.

He said the state of the laboratory as of now was bad and needed urgent attention because the school was finding it difficult to maintain it. According to him, its refurbishment would improve the level of science education in the school.

Mr Yeboah was speaking at the 12th Pearson-Osae Appreciation Public Lectures organized by Prempeh College Old Students' Association at the Golden Tulip in Kumasi on Friday.

The Old Students' Association in 1998 instituted the lectures to honour the College's first two Headmasters for their pioneering role in the establishment and development of the College. They are Reverend Sydney N. Pearson and Mr T. A. Osae, the first and second headmasters respectively.

The Lectures were also to honour members of staff of the College. "The Challenges of Our Time" was the theme for the occasion. Mr Yeboah said, he appreciated the challenges of the school and was prepared to collaborate with individuals or groups of students, who were prepared to assist him to ensure the progress of the students and the College.

Speaking on the topic "400 Years of Science and its impact on the Average Ghanaian," Professor Edward Tsiri Agbenyega, former Dean of the School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) said science makes people remain in their youthful stage for long. He said people in the advanced world were using science in the course of their development efforts and there was the need for Ghanaians to make use of lessons in science to also advance.

He said it was time people adopt all the useful lessons of science to improve on their social, cultural and economic lives. "We must allow science and technology to make impact on our lives through effective planning and programming ahead of the nation's development agenda," he said.

Mr Yaw Berko Nketia, President of the American Academy of Actuaries, speaking on the same topic, called for an effective public education on scientific methods and knowledge and its impact on human lives. He said people should not adopt healing powers as alternative to modern medicine.

Mr Nketia advised people to take advantage of technological advancement, access to medical services, improved working conditions and adoption of good eating habits, body exercise, avoidance of strong alcohol and smoking to improve on their life expectancy.

He said Ghana is developing and moving forward therefore people should not resort to soothsayers and oracles.

Awards and citations were presented to 10 teachers and a driver of the College for their meritorious contributions to the College. They included, Nana Dr Susubribi Krobea Asante, Paramount Chief of Effiduase Asokore and Mr Collins Osei Yaw, who for 35 years had driven the school truck. 28 Nov. 09