Chiraa (B/A), Nov 27, GNA - Mrs Gifty Biyira, deputy Director at the Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines at the weekend called for the intensification parent sensitisation on the right of the girl child to education. She said there was need for greater efforts in addressing aspects of culture and traditional practices, including early marriages that continue to impede girls' education. Mrs Biyira was addressing a fund-raising durbar of chiefs and people at Chiraa in Sunyani municipality to climax of a week's activities marking the third anniv ersary of the enstoolment of Nana Yeboaa Pene II, Queen of Chiraa.

The durbar was initiated by Nana Pene to raise funds to complete a girls' dormitory for the Chiraa Senior High School. Individuals, corporate bodies, chiefs and other citizens of the town donated a total cash of 310 million cedis at the ceremony. Mrs Biyira noted that in many communities the education of the boy child was given preference over that of girls, adding that many families preferred to commit their meagre resources to the education of the boy child.

"It is therefore necessary for us as individuals, corporate firms or members of civil society to mobilize resources for the education of these children", she said.

She stressed that education released women from "the cage of misery" and built confidence in them to contribute to decision-making, both at home and at the workplace. She noted with regret that although education of girls continued to occupy the minds of politicians, educationists and the general public, and dominated many advocacy declarations, gender disparities persisted throughout the education system.

"Data on enrolment, retention and transition show that in many countries, girls and women lag behind boys in early childcare, through primary, secondary and higher education and in non-formal and literacy education programmes as well", Mrs. Biyira added. She commended Nana Yeboaa's initiative to construct the girls' dormitory, describing it as a good example of the partnership required to complement government's efforts in providing quality education to all Ghanaians.

Mrs Biyira appealed to the general public to contribute to the Queen's initiative and advised the girls in the school to work harder in spite of the limited resources at their disposal and to be disciplined and law-abiding.

Barima Minta Afari II, Chief of Chiraa, commended Nana Yeboaa for the initiative to help girl child education in the area and appealed to the people to support her.

He announced that work on the construction of a police station and a palace would soon begin and expressed the hope that both resident and non-resident citizens would assist with contributions. The chief called on the people to eschew petty squabbles and rather unite and co-operate with traditional authorities in developing the area.

Nana Yeboaa called on parents, especially mothers to mould their daughters to eschew lifestyles that would create problems for them. They should rather concentrate on their education. She said she decided to build the dormitory so that more girls could be admitted and retained in the school instead of being seen daily roaming in the town because of lack of proper accommodation in the institution.

Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and a citizen of the town, urged parents to train their children well to become responsible adults. Mr Adjei-Darko, who is the MP for Sunyani West, deplored what he termed extravagant lifestyles and dressing of some students, saying it did not portray them as people who would become responsible future leaders and advised parents to check the excesses of their children. In a related development Mr. Kwadwo Ohene Darko, a citizen of the town based in the United Kingdom has donated eight boxes of 300 assorted books to Adasuokor library in the town. Barima Minta, who received the books, urged students and pupils in the area to patronize the library to advance their education and advised them to take good care of the books.