NDC MP builds teachers` quarters for Ekumfi Atwa

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Mfantseman East, Mr. George Kuntu Blankson, on Monday, handed over the keys to a six bedroom Teachers' quarters to the chiefs and people of Ekumfi Atwa in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region.

The project was completed at a total cost of GH¢9,500 within a one-year period after his predecessor, Mrs. Comfort Owusu, laid the foundation.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony to the Tufohene of Ekumfi Traditional Area, Nana Kwaku Enu, Mr Blankson advised teachers of the town to make good use of the quarters to help improve on the quality of education. He noted that the construction of the quarters was necessitated by the absence of proper accommodation for teachers, resulting in the refusal of some teachers to accept postings in the area.

He advised traditional rulers not to engage themselves in partisan politics but rather use their positions to advice politicians, especially in the run up to the December elections.

According to him, it was the duty of chiefs to advice politicians on the use of decent languages in their campaign as well as counsel them on the implementation of developmental projects in their various constituencies, but not to campaign for them (politicians) in order not to create division and chaos in their communities.

The NDC MP, who was reacting to incidents of some chiefs who identify themselves with political parties, used the opportunity to advise them to refrain from the act, since opposing political parties who win power could punish the traditional areas of such chiefs by depriving them of developmental projects. He again urged the people to examine their living conditions and vote for the NDC to come back to power to continue the good work it did.

Nana Kwaku Enu, who chaired the function, expressed gratitude to the MP for the project, which has been a major problem facing teachers in the area, indicating that it would go a long way to help solve the accommodation problems that teachers faced in the area.

He was hopeful the gesture would motivate them to put in their best effort to enable students who have been performing poorly in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) to get better results in the forthcoming examinations.

The Headmaster of Atwa-Abuakwa Junior High School, the beneficiary school, commended Mr. Kuntu-Blankson for the project, noting that many teachers who were posted to the area were reluctant to accept the posting because of accommodation problem.

He again noted that the project was timely because teachers had to walk long distances to School, indicating that the location of the project, which was very close to the school, will enable teachers report early to class and also make them punctual.

He appealed to the GES to provide more staff for the school to make teaching more effective.

Meanwhile, some chiefs who spoke to this reporter on condition of anonymity have bemoaned the situation where teachers defiled their pupils, impregnate them and flee out of the community.

They lamented that the situation was becoming very rampant in the area, indicating that last year three teenagers were impregnated by three different teachers who fled out of the town when their immoral escapades was revealed.

The chiefs also mentioned cases where some teachers drink alcohol before reporting for work, and noted that the situation would have negative influence on pupils if not brought under control. They have therefore called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) and other authorities concerned to ensure that teachers found indulging in such acts were severely dealt with.