Gomoa Assembly votes funds to complete abandon classrooms, dormitory

Gomoa Panfokrom (C/R), July 25, GNA - The Gomoa District Assembly has voted 327 million cedis for the completion of a four-classroom block and a dormitory for the Panfokrom Women Training Institute at Gomoa Panfokrom that had been abandoned for the past ten years. The District Chief Executive, MS Joyce Aidoo, said this in an address read for her at the Speech and Prize-given Day celebration of the Panfokrom Women Training Institute at Gomoa Panfokrom on Saturday. Ms Aidoo noted that the government recognised education as very important in the development of the nation hence its efforts to provide more infrastructure at the basic, secondary and tertiary levels to promote education.

The DCE said women play active role in the building of a nation hence the establishment of more women's institutes to ensure well-trained and responsible women.

On the forthcoming general elections, MS Aidoo reminded Ghanaians especially the students that democracy thrived on the rule of law, adding that, "Your ability to submit to the law, irrespective of your physical attributes or social status, is a mark of good discipline and your propensity towards a democratic culture".

She urged the students to start building the attitude of self-discipline now, to enable them to become useful citizens, well equipped to take up the mantle of leadership in the society. The DEC encouraged the teachers of the institute to let hard work and commitment to duty override their personal interest since the teaching profession was a noble one.

In her annual report, the headmistress of the Institute, MS Rebecca Ampa-Korsah said the institute, which was the first of its kind for the training of women in the country, lacked many amenities including, dormitories, classrooms and a means of transport.

She said the school offers Catering, Dressmaking, Hairdressing, Home Management, Needlework and Crafts, English Language, Childcare, Batik, Tie and Dye, Entrepreneurial Development and other subjects.

According to her the school had moved one step ahead along the educational ladder within the last two years when it submitted candidates for the National Vocational Training Institute Grades Two and One certificate Examinations.

She said that only 16 students were admitted for the City and Guild programme due to the lack of accommodation and pointed "out that the structures which were started so many years back for the programme were still lying in the bush awaiting completion".

According to her most of the existing buildings needed rehabilitation and appealed to the government and NGOs to help rehabilitate them. She thanked the government, especially the Regional Minister and the Vice-President for extending electricity to the school. Ms Ampa-Korsah praised the PTA for its efforts at providing some of the school's needs.

The Senior Prefect of the school, Ms Helena Botcheway said due to insufficient accommodation, seven or eight students were compelled to live in a cubicle meant for five students.

Prizes were distributed to deserving students and staff who excelled in their work.