Akyem Oda, May 18, GNA - Dr Kwasi Akyem Apea-Kubi, the Eastern Regional Minister, on Tuesday expressed satisfaction at the pace of development in the Birim Central Municipality and commended Ms Ophelia Koomson, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), on her good leadership qualities. Dr Apea-Kubi gave the commendation at Akyem Oda after inspecting a number of development projects in the Municipality.

The projects are the construction of a 12-unit Girls Dormitory at Akyem Akroso Senior High School (SHS), six 96 unit classroom block, office and a store, library, teachers Common Room and four-seater KVIP places of convenience for the Atiankama Catholic Primary School. He also inspected a semi-detached Nurses' Quarters at Akyem Manso and other projects. Dr Apea-Kubi said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government, recognizing the important role education played in national development was determined to invest a greater chunk of the nation's resources in human resource development as part of the Better Ghana Agenda. "The introduction of the free exercise books and school uniforms programme, increase in capitation grant and the expansion of the school feeding programmes are interventions of the government to cushion parents financially to ensure affordability and accessibility to education by all school-going children in the country," he said. Dr Apea-Kubi indicated that the government was working hard towards equitable allocation of facilities and resources to schools, especially for those in rural communities.

Ms Koomson on her part implored teachers, parents and all stakeholders in education to enforce discipline both at home and school. She pleaded with teachers to continuously use all the means at their disposal to counsel and guide students and the youth against the dangers that are associated with occultism and other associated harmful practices Ms Koomson advised students to desist from social vices such as drug abuse, drunkenness, pre-marital sex and the rest. Mr Bismark Tawiah Boateng and Ms Evelyn Korang, Eastern Regional Organizer and Regional Women's Organizer respectively, among others were part of the entourage.