Mankessim(C/R),Sept. 13, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama has urged stakeholders in education in the Mfansteman District of the Central Region, to design strategies to reverse the abysmal performance of pupils in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

He noted that BECE results in the area put education at a very low profile.

Mr Mahama said this in a speech read on his behalf during a ceremony to climax the week-long Akwambo festival of the chiefs and people, which was on the theme: "Investing in our children and youth, our sustainable assets."

The Vice President used the occasion to advise parents to monitor their children at home especially those who engage in activities, which are detrimental to their education.

Mr Mahama told parents that they owe it a duty to complement government's efforts to facilitate holistic pursuit of education.

He assured the people that government would revive the irrigation project in the area, which started decades ago and release funds to support farmers to produce more vegetables.

Madam Ama Benyiwa-Doe also in a speech read on her behalf expressed happiness that this year's festival was not characterised by violence and called on the people to use the event for stock staking and forge ahead in unity to speed up the development of the area.

The Queenmother Nana Ama Emissah 111 cut the festival cake as a symbol of unity. The Development Chief of Nkatsim, a farming community near Mankessim; Nana Kumi Gyatoahene, said education remained his major priority and asked parents to enrol their children in school.

Known in private life as Duke Williams, Nana Kumi is the Chief Executive Officer of the Duke Williams Foundation for Hope and Charity, a non-governmental organisation (NGO),which has collaborated with LEAF Foundation, another NGO in Mankessim to foster development in the area.

The Paramount Chief of Mankessim, Osagyefo Amanfo Edu expressed the need for the people to be abreast of Information Communication Technology (ICT) to fit into the job market especially in the petro-chemical industry.

He called for strong partnership between the traditional council and government to accelerate the pace of national development.