Funsi, (UW/R), April 4, GNA - The elders of Funsi in the Wa East District on Tuesday released a parcel of land to the authorities of the Wa East District Assembly and the District Education Directorate for the establishment of a senior secondary school in the area.

Mr, Albert B Mbebasi, a spokesman of the elders told the authorities that the one-mile square piece of land was released free of charge as part of their social responsibility towards bringing secondary school education to their children who had hitherto travelled outside the district to acquire secondary education

Mr Mbebasi, who was speaking at a short ceremony to hand-over the land to the authorities said: "We have now realise that education is the bedrock of development and it is only through education that we can eradicate poverty, hunger and disease from our midst". He expressed the hope that the provision of a senior secondary school in the District would help encourage parents to send their children, especially girls to school.

Mr Issahaku Adam, Wa East District Chief Executive, who took over the land thanked the elders for their gesture and said it was the aim of the government to make education accessible to children in all parts of the country.

He assured the elders that the Assembly would collaborate with them to acquire the land legally to avoid confusion and future litigation. The DCE said a three-unit classroom block would be put up soon to start the school next academic year and called for the cooperation of the people to enhance the smooth execution of the project.

Meanwhile, the Assembly is undertaking a three-unit junior staff quarters project at a cost of 980 million cedis and a four unit quarters with funds from the District Wide Assisted Programme as residential accommodation for the police at a cost of 344 million cedis. The Assembly has also spent 900 million cedis and 560 million cedis from its share of the District Assemblies Common Fund to provide residential bungalows for the District Chief Executive and District Coordinating Director respectively.