2ND BATCH OF SHS EXCHANGE PROGRAMME TO TAKE OF ON FRIDAY 13TH FEBRUARY 2009

All is set for the take off of the second batch of the Senior High School Division of the Ghana National Exchange Programme School, an Agency of the Country Awards Council – Ghana on Friday 13th of February 2009 at the K. G. Konuah Hall, Accra Academy, Accra at 10:30 am.

About five hundred (500) students have been selected from eighteen (18) Senior High Schools across six (6) regions namely Ashanti, Volta, Eastern, Western, Central and Greater Accra regions to take part in a one month exchange programme during the second section of the 2008/2009 Academic year.

The Senior High Schools that will be involved in the one (1) month national exchange programme school include Accra Academy, Adisadel, Sekondi, Zion, Bishop Hermann and St. Augustine's Colleges Others are Opoku Ware School, Mfantsipim School, Ola Girls', Mawuko Girls' and Krobo Girls' Senior High Schools. The rest are, Nkawie SHS, Keta SHS, Aggrey AME Zion SHS and Apam SHS. And finally Labone SHS, Ghana Sec/Tech. School and Pope John's SHS.

During the programme, participants are mandated to take part in activities such as academic pursuits, current affairs conference call and peer to peer quiz competitions, excursions (Tours) and courtesy calls, community outreach and leadership programmes. Others include cultural activities, debates, sports, HIV/AIDS seminars and regenerative health programmes.

The national exchange is aimed at promoting a holistic approach towards academic advancement, bridging of gap amongst schools thereby promoting a common educational platform and the true Ghanaian cultural identity in order to build a united front for national development. The programme is also for the sole purpose of developing quality leaders to suit all geographical terrain and further promote internal tourism. That national exchange programme has also been designed to ensure volunteerism and service to the nation is high on young person's development agenda. It will further seek to promote the sharing of skills and harnessing of ideas amongst students, lifelong networking and also to afford students a lifetime opportunity to enrol in their dream schools. The pursuit of sporting activities, health programmes such as the practise of regenerative health and HIV/AIDS awareness creation has been inculcated in the programme to give a broader approach towards its management.

The Chairman and Vice Patron of the Boards of Governors and Patrons of the Country Awards Council– Ghana High Command His Awardship Major Courage E. K Quashigah (Rtd.), FGNAHAF said young people must be equipped with lifelong skills that will enable them cope with current and changing challenges. He has therefore called on stake holders to supports initiatives and programmes that will be extremely beneficial to the upbringing of young people and the development of the nation as a whole.

The Country Director of Country Awards Council Ghana, His Awardship Kobla Asamani, FGNAHAF has called on the media and stake holders to give maximum support to this historic event in Ghana's history for the second time which has been described as the largest inter cultural diversity programme in the world and further ensure that all hands are on deck.

Cecil Nii Obodai Wentum
Executive Director
Ghana National Exchange Programme School, An Agency of CACG