Kuntu (C/R), Aug 6, GNA - The first 13 Junior Secondary School (JSS) students in the history of Kuntu near Saltpond to gain admission to Senior Secondary School (SSS) have been offered scholarships by the Nkosuohene of the village, Nana Kwame Baffoe with support from Links, an African-American Women's Organisation. Nana Kwesi Brebo III, Chief of Kuntu, said this at a durbar to welcome Nana Baffoe known in private life as Dr Perry Kirklin, a retired University Lecturer, a Links delegation, friends and relatives of the Nkosuohene.

He said the Nkosuohene or Development Chief who was installed about three years ago had initiated and executed a number of projects to improve education including the provision of a library stocked with books in the village.

Nana Baffoe had also equipped the science laboratory and provided computers for the Kuntu JSS; Nana Brebo stated and commended him for contributing substantially towards the construction of a palace. Nana Baffoe said he had formed an organisation known as the Kuntu Village Nkusuohene Committee in the United States to solicit support for development projects to improve the lives of the people in the community.

He said the credit for the assistance to Kuntu should not go to him alone but to the Committee as well as his relatives and friends and appealed to the people to help him to learn the Fanti language to be part of the tradition and culture of the area.

Ms Clarice H Taylor, President of Links Incorporated in Pennsylvania in the United States, said members of the organisation were happy to be associated with the development of Kuntu. The 60 year-old organisation supported education and empowering the youth with knowledge, she said and expressed the hope that the full scholarships for the 13 JSS students would equip them to solve problems to improve their lifestyles and that of their families and the community.

She urged the students to study very hard with the aim of furthering their education to the tertiary level and said Links was committed to help the people to acquire knowledge and skills for the development of the community.

Ms Taylor said the organisation made up of Teachers, Principals, Corporate Executives, students and other professionals she described as "friends of Kuntu" would distribute books, school supplies, cloths and tooth care kits donated by the Colgate-Palmolive company to children in primary schools.

She advised them to brush their teeth every morning when they got up from bed and in the night before they went to bed to keep them strong.

In the group from the United States were Ms Jacqueline Neal, a past President of Links and Ms Marion Lane, International Services Chair-person of the organisation.

Nana Ataapim Kweenu, Chief of Woraba and Omankrado of the Nkusukum Traditional Area, who is also the Presiding Member of the Mfantseman District Assembly, Nana Sekyi III, Obatan and Nana Kwa Bonku V, Ankobeahene of the area attended the durbar.