Tema, Jan. 6, GNA - The Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) on Thursday, presented scholarships to 50 brilliant but needy students in the Metropolis with a call on fathers to take keen interest in the affairs of the girl-child. Mr Kwesi Hutchful, Tema Metropolitan Director of Education, who made the call, said fathers must know that the psychological and academic stability of their girl-child was hinged on the fatherly support given them. Mr Hutchful urged fathers to be friends of their children, especially the girls, and to also take keen interest in their education and welfare. He said the girl-child could perform better than her male-counterpart when societal and other disruptions were eliminated through the introduction of fatherly love and care.

The Metropolitan Education Director also appealed to Traditional Leaders t= o secure and enhance the life of the girl-child in society, by enforcing cultural beliefs that preserve them morally. He indicated that there was the need for a lot of control of children, especially girls, in society, to enable them to go through and complete school before becoming mothers.

Mr Hutchful said it was unfortunate that society and parents have shirked their responsibility of training children, leaving the burden on teachers. He, therefore, entreated parents to take up their traditional role of feeding and clothing their children, and ensuring that they attended school on time, and did their home work and projects. He said parents must fully participate in Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA= ) meetings, in addition to paying frequent visits to schools to be apprised o= n the academic and moral performance of their children by their teachers. Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, said the 2010 Scholarship Award, was increased from 40 in 2009 to 50 this year, due to the many applications received by the Assembly.

He said the Assembly normally allocates about GH¢40,000 of its share of the Common Fund to Education within the Metropolis. Mr Ofosuware gave the assurance that TMA would continue to support brilliant, but needy students, to help develop the human resource base of the Metropolis, and the country as a whole. He cautioned the beneficiary students to learn hard to justify the Award, and said the Award would be withdrawn when they failed to excel academically. Nii Adjei Kraku II, Tema Mantse, advised residents and companies in Tema to pay their levies and taxes to enable the Assembly to get more revenue to implement projects. Nii Kraku also called on past beneficiaries of the Award, to contribute to the Fund after completion of school, to enable more people to benefit. Master Derick Mintah, a form two student of Labonne Senior High School, on behalf of the other beneficiaries, thanked the TMA, and pledged their willingness to study hard, and to further their education for the future benefit of the Metropolis.