50th Anniversary Of Commission For UNSECO Launched In Accra

Ghana has called on UNESCO to revisit its constitution to elaborate on the visionary insights that its founding fathers conceived.

She said, UNESCO's stated mission had been put to test for over six decades by the complexity of the world that had gone through deep-seated changes.

Launching the 50th Anniversary celebrations by the Ghana National Commission for UNESCO in Accra yesterday, Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of State in-Charge of Tertiary Education said, 'the aspirations of the founding fathers are even more relevant today than ever before in the face of age long problems of poverty, human rights abuses, civil wars and modern day problems like terrorism which constitute an attack against humanity.'

Ms Ohene said the Commission had been an important forum for dialogue and exchange of ideas among its members as well as maintaining a strong UNESCO influence in Ghana's educational, scientific and cultural landscape.

Ghana has significantly contributed to the development of UNESCO's development and has become the hub of educational information in the African sub region.

At present, under the organisation's decentralisation and reform programme, Ghana is playing host to the UNESCO cluster office that serves Benin, Ghana, Cote D'Ivoire, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo.

Ms Ohene commended UNESCO for the critical intervention it has made in Ghana's development process by supporting various Universities in the country and media organisations including the Ghana Journalists Association and smaller communities with the establishment of radio stations.

The theme for the celebrations is:'50 Years of partnership and development' and it would be observed from 11 April this year to April 11 next year with activities including lectures, exhibitions, mock UNESCO general Conference and awards night.

Mrs Charity Amamoo, Secretary-General, Ghana National Commission for UNESCO paid tribute to the founding members and stressed the need for the organisation to continue to inculcate the ideals of the organisation that included peace-building, tolerance, learning to live together and respect for human rights, among the youth.

'We shall endeavour to enhance our output in regular programmes in education, sciences, culture, communication and information with the
support of our stakeholders, especially the UNESCO Cluster Office.'

Professor Alfred Oteng Yeboah, Chairman, Natural Science Committee of the Commission who chaired the launching called for the establishment of a hall of fame to appreciate the work of people who had contributed to the successes of UNESCO.