Kumasi, April 29, GNA - A three-day Ashanti Regional Education Sector Annual Review (RESAR) workshop opened in Kumasi on Monday with a call on stakeholders to contribute meaningfully towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister who made the call said education had a crucial role to play in human resource development of the citizenry.

The workshop was attended by Metropolitan, Municipal and District Directors of Education, Chief Executives, Assembly members, Education Statisticians, Religious Leaders and Chiefs.

It was a participatory forum for stakeholders to access overall educational status in the region, consolidate achievements made in the past, identify challenges and actions to be taken in future. Mr Owusu-Ansah urged the participants to ensure quality education towards the country's development.

Mr Joseph Kwabena Onyinah, Ashanti Regional Director of Education, said the annual review would enable policy makers monitor district and regional performances to provide needed assistance to those lagging behind in the implementation of national education policies and directives.

In addition, he said it would strengthen capacity building in education management at the Regional and District levels with regard to their targets, plans and budgets.

Mr Onyinah announced that Ministry of Education, Science and Sports was implementing an education strategic plan that would serve as the framework for Ghana to meet her commitment to achieve the MDGs and other national and international objectives and targets.