Kumasi, April 9, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor has urged authorities of senior secondary schools to produce graduates, who are imbued with the virtues of respect for authority, decent behaviour and the use of acceptable language to their fellow citizens at all times.

He said the government's quest for quality fulfilling life for citizens of the country was paramount and urged schools authorities to use their structures and statutes as a means of passing these virtues on those, who enrolled in their schools.

These were contained in an address read for him at the 53rd Speech and Prize-giving Day of the Opoku Ware School (OWASS) in Kumasi on Saturday. It was under the theme, "Promoting Academic Excellence, The Role of Stakeholders".

President Kufuor said education remained one of the top priority sectors and would continue to explore ways to make education effective and efficient in the country.

He said government had invested heavily in the provision of infrastructure for schools at all levels, while vigorous teacher training programme to upgrade and enrich its contents were on course. President Kufuor advised the students to be discipline and remain loyal to their school by obeying rules and regulations at all times.

He urged them to make good use of their time and the facilities available to build and develop their potentials.

President Kufuor commended the Catholic Church for providing high quality education at all levels in the country and called on all sections of the society and stakeholders to make and contribute the necessary sacrifices and ideas to help develop education in the country.

Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, called on all stakeholders to reflect on their roles to ensure that the country produced leaders, who had the fear of the Lord in them and were committed to the development of the country.

He said it was disheartening that despite the heavy investment and sacrifices in education, some of the youth still go wayward and wondered whether stakeholders were not playing their roles well or had neglected their responsibilities.

Mr Boafo charged parents, teachers, government and the general society to be responsible for the moral upbringing of children in the country.

Oheneba Agyeman Atweneboanda, Hiahene, who represented the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, said Asanteman was proud of the achievements and performances of the Opoku Ware School and commended the staff and students for maintaining high levels of discipline in the school.

Mr Stephen Anokye, Headmaster of the school, enumerated a number of academic and sports achievements of the school over the years and said the school's impressive achievements indicated that investments made were not wasted.

He appealed for a new dormitory and classroom blocks to help increase the school's enrolment.

Master Jeffrey Ntorinkansa, SRC president, appealed to the government to implement the school ICT literacy project to enable students to benefit from computer education.

Most Reverend Peter Akwasi Sarpong, Catholic Archbishop of Kumasi said, the church regarded the school as an intellectual powerhouse in the archdiocese, which was meant to produce citizens, who were God-fearing and ready to serve society.

He charged the students to let the knowledge acquired be guided by God at all times.