Ho, Feb. 28, GNA - Colonel Cyril Necku (Rtd), Deputy Volta Regional Minister at the weekend expressed concern at the slow pace at which work on the Regional Library Complex was progressing. He said the library complex started about six years ago, was "only 46 per cent complete denying the regional capital a well stocked library befitting its status as a regional capital". Col. Rtd. Necku expressed the concern at the closing ceremony of the first Basic Schools Drama and Poetry Festival in Ho. He expressed disappointment that the Centre for National Culture (CNC) Regional Theatre started 20 years was still incomplete. The Festival was organized by the CNC, aimed at inculcating the habit of reading and writing in pupils, help them discover their talents, and to generally improve academic performance in the municipality. Col. Rtd. Necku said the lack of a well stocked library in Ho accounted for the poor academic performance in the Municipality and assured that the Regional Coordinating Council would take the matter up to the authorities to ensure that the facility was completed "within the shortest possible time." "With our public university for the Volta Region soon to take off in addition to the Evangelical Presbyterian University and others which are likely to start soon, we need not belabor the need for a well stocked Library in Ho," he said.

He said the RCC was concern about the poor academic performance of pupils and students in the region over the years, and was re-considering the establishment of a Regional Education Development Fund to salvage and promote education in the region.

Col. Rtd. Necku said efforts were also being made to promote Information Communication Technology (ICT) with the establishment of community ICT Centers in all districts and called for the support of all stakeholders.

He commended the CNC for the initiative and advised them to extend the festival to Senior High Schools in the region. Mr William Addo, Volta Regional Director of CNC thanked stakeholders for supporting the Festival and expressed the hope that it would have a positive impact on pupils in the Municipality. He said the festival would be made an annual one and would be extended to all basic schools in the region and called for support from all. Mr Addo said the CNC remained committed to using its scanty resources to help transform society and appealed to authorities to give the Centre some priority and complete the Regional Theatres in time so that they could be used for the purposes for which they were constructed. At the end of the festival, Master Anaglo Sadat of Housing JHS emerged Best Actor and Miss Afesi Elizabeth of Christ the Prince of Peace JHS, the Best Actress.

The best poet went to Akpabli Priscilla of Kabore JHS and the best organized play staged by Christ the Prince of Peace JHS on the effects of global warming.