Kumasi, Jan. 12, GNA - Right Reverend Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, has decried the growing immorality among students and said, this is affecting academic performance.

He said the rate at which they are taking to alcohol, involving in occultism and pre-marital sex should give cause for worry. Rt Rev Dr Frimpong-Manso, who was launching the 60th anniversary celebration of the T.I Ahmadiyya Senior High School (SHS) in Kumasi, said the students need to be assisted to shun irresponsible conduct and lead disciplined lives.

"Sixty Years of Discipline and Academic Excellence" was the theme. The Moderator called for strong academic programmes that would enhance not only students' career development but make them to become more adaptable and flexible to changing circumstances. He said 60 years in the life of an institution was a remarkable achievement and congratulated the tutors and students of the school for such an enviable record.

He challenged them to "hold aloft the banner of hard work, discipline and moral excellence." Rt Rev Dr Frimpong-Manso, an Old Student of the school, urged the management to use the occasion to plan effective programmes to raise the academic performance.

Mr Y. K. Agyare, the Headmaster, in his welcoming address commended the founding fathers of the school for their initiative, efforts and foresight. Established in 1950 with an enrolment of three students, the student population has grown to 1,600, made up of both Christians and Muslims. Mr Agyare described the academic performance of the schools as excellent, scoring 100 percent passes in the 2007 and the 2008 West Africa Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) Examinations. It has over the years turned out a number of prominent people and professionals, who are contributing to the socio-economic development of the country. Alhaji Maulvi Yusif Mohammed Yawson, Deputy Ameer of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, said the Mission has been good partners of the state in the promotion of education and health.