Ho, July 10, GNA - The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa on Saturday urged the Volta Region Students Association of Ghana (VORSAG) to keep to its primary objective of a non-political organisation for rallying the youth for the development of the region and the country. Mr Owusu-Yeboa gave the advice in a keynote address delivered on his behalf at the first VORSAG rally at Ho under the theme, "Standing up to the challenges of our time: The role of the youth".

The rally was a climax to a one-month voluntary teaching session undertaken by members from the Universities and Polytechnics in schools and colleges in the region.

Mr. Owusu-Yeboa lamented that many well-intentioned organisations have more often deviated from their primary goals to become platforms for agitation.

He urged members to remain undaunted by the challenges they would face in the quest to serve the society and be encouraged by such challenges to press ahead.

He urged the association to assist in educating the populace on government programmes, such as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), HIV/AIDS, and others aimed at improving living conditions in the country.

Mr Owusu-Yeboa pledged the support of the Regional Administration in subsequent such programmes to ensure that they were more successful. Speaking on "Juvenile Delinquency and the Law", Mr Kofi, Deputy Commissioner of Police in the Volta Region observed that it was wrong to think that juvenile delinquency was not a crime.

He explained that the word juvenile is only used to qualify a crime when it is committed by a person, who is between 12 and 18 years. Mr Arthur said like any crime therefore, youth hooliganism and indiscipline, including those committed in schools attract appropriate punishments under the law.

He therefore, urged students to learn what the laws and offences were there to notify the Police to deal with situations likely to threaten peace and order in their schools.

Meanwhile the Association appealed for co-operation from some institutions towards its voluntary teaching initiatives. July 10, 04.