Omanhene of Gomoa Akyempim Traditional
Area, Obrifo Ahunaku Ahor Ankobea II, has lauded the government's decision to
subsidize Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) registration fee for
students.
Obrifo Ahor Ankobea was particularly happy with the decision to extend the
subsidy to students in private schools.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Apam on Tuesday, the Omanhene said the
government's gesture to provide exercise books and uniforms freely and to increase
the capitation grant from GHc3.00 to GHc4.50 per pupil, demonstrated its
commitment to strengthen school enrolment.
He appealed to parents to take advantage of the gesture to enrol their wards and
retain them in school.
Obrifo Ahor Ankobea cited a report released by UNICEF in February last year,
ranking Ghana seventh among African countries with the largest number of children of
school-going age still outside the classroom and said the report had cast a slur on the
reputation of the nation, whose independence dates more than five decades back.
“With almost everything in basic education now free of charge, parents have no
excuse to keep their children out of school,” he said and urged the government to
institute sanctions against parents who will not enrol their wards.
In a related development, Obrifo Ahor Ankobea commended President John Atta
Mills for appointing Daasebre Kwebu Ewusi VII, President of the Central Region
House of Chiefs to the Council of State.