Chiefs offer palace as students’ hostel

As a display of their commitment to the attainment of quality and improved education and comfort for students, the Akrofuom Divisional Council has offered to release part of the multi-purpose palace complex to the management of the Akrofuom Secondary Technical School to serve as a interim boys' Hostel.

Nana Anim Agyekum, Gyaasehene of the division made the announcement at a durbar of chiefs and people during which the new headmaster of the school and the newly appointed district chief executive were formally introduced.

Nana Agyekum noted that the acute accommodation problem facing the school is of concern to all and needed an interim measure to ease the problem whiles long term solutions are being exploited.

He commended the new headmaster Peter Amponsah for his selfless service and commitment to work, saying his impact has greatly been felt by all during his short stay at the school.

The Chiefs used the occasion to re-echo the numerous calls for the government to give prior attention to the construction of the main Obuasi-Akrofuom road, which is currently in a bad state.

The assistant district director of education in the Adansi South District Nana Appiah Danquah appealed to female graduate teachers to accept postings to the rural areas to serve as role models to the rural girl child.

He announced that government, through the special initiative on education, is gradually phasing out the Teachers Certificate A to give way to diploma certificate in the training colleges, under the distance learning programme.

As a way of assessing performance at the basic levels, Nana Danquah said his outfit will organize mock exams for all J. S. S. pupils in the first week of February next year.

He also announced that, all basic pupils in the district will soon be supplied with free textbooks each as part of government policy of enhancing education.

Participants at a two-day workshop on democracy and good governance have accused the police and other state Institutions of aiding and abetting corruption in the country.

The workshop held in Obuasi was organized by the Ghana Intergrity Initiative in partnership with the local branch of the National Commission for civic education.

It was on the theme “Fighting corruption, an agenda for democracy and good governance” During an open forum majority of the participants attacked the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Education Service, (G.E.S) politicians and other institutions for perpetuating corruption.

A contributor at the forum Hon. Ofosu Donkor Alfred, an assembly member for Kwabrafoso electoral area pointed a straight finger at the Obuasi divisional unit of the Ghana Police Service accusing them of extorting monies from drivers using vehicles which are not road worthy instead of arresting them for prosecution. His accusation which was echoed by other participants at the workshop comes in the wake of several allegations of corruption leveled against the service in recent times.

In the last six months alone, about four major allegations of extortions have rocked the police service in Obuasi headed by chief superintendent Kwabena Oduro Akuoko, yet there has been no effort by the police administration to launch any enquiry into the allegations which involve the extortions of amounts ranging between ¢200, 000 and ¢4,000.000.Staff of the G.E.S. particularly heads of schools and teachers were equally not spared as they were accused of taking bribes before admitting students or collecting illegal fees. Participants also bemoaned the practice whereby politicians Influence electorates with money to vote them into power.

Other contributors also accused other institutions such as the judicial service and the traditional set up saying there are all guilty of the offence.

On ways of eradicating the canker, participants suggested that offenders should be exposed in the media and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.

Others suggested that moral values be instilled in the younger generation so that they can uphold the principles of integrity in their old age. 'It takes human beings to change a system, so let's change our attitudes, a participant stressed.