Parliament marks Commonwealth Day

Accra, March 15, GNA - Mr. Kwabena Adusa Okerchiri, MP for Nkawkaw, on Tuesday said education, including early childhood care and development is an essential pre-requisite for individuals to achieve their full potentials.

It also provides a safety valve for non-exploitative and non-violent society as well as enhancing competitiveness in a knowledge-based national and global economy.

This was contained in a statement read to the House by Mr. Adusa Okerchiri, who is also Deputy Majority Chief Whip to mark Commonwealth Day, which falls today, Tuesday, March 14 and being marked by 53 countries throughout the world.

The theme for this year's celebration is, "Education; Creating Opportunity, Realising Potentials."

He said the purpose of the Day is to promote the understanding of global issues, international co-operation, especially among Commonwealth countries.

Mr. Adusa Okerchiri said the Commonwealth believes in the right of everyone to education and that all persons have a right of access to lifelong learning by every appropriate means.

He said a conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers held in October 2003 at Edinburgh, Scotland endorsed several action areas to address the challenges facing education.

They include achieving universal primary education, eliminating gender disparities, improving quality education, using distance learning to overcome barriers and mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS through education.

"The Commonwealth realises the devastating effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and therefore the Commonwealth Secretariat in partnership with the UNESCO has launched an initiative dedicated to reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS through education."

Mr. Adusa Okerchiri said the Ghana's commitment to the values and works of the Commonwealth is deep and unshakeable and that Ghana is at present doing everything it could to practicalise freedom of expression and association and freedom from want, hunger, illiteracy and disease. 15 March 05