Act firmly to stop drug and alcohol abuse - Kufuor

Kumasi, Nov. 10, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Saturday expressed concern about the increasing reports of drugs and alcohol abuse among students and called on school authorities to be more vigilant and act firmly to stop the menace.

Narcotic drugs use, he said, was not only criminal but could be potentially injurious to health.

President Kufuor, was addressing the Golden Jubilee Celebration of the Kumasi Academy, a Senior High School, established by the Baptist Mission.

He encouraged the country's students to be wary of the onslaught of alien influences that contravened cherished values of the society. To survive the complex world outside the walls of the school, he said they needed to individually reflect and prepare on how to lead responsible lives that would enable them to play significant roles in nation building.

President Kufuor mentioned human resource development as one of the three-pronged priorities of the Government and said it was on the basis of this that it was doing everything to fully implement the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE).

He also outlined measures it had put in place to promote quality education, focusing on the teaching of science and technology and the mastery of Information, Communication Technology (ICT). He said, he was impressed with the high number of professionals the School has turned out over the years, who were playing critical roles in the nation with some of them serving in the Government. He also congratulated the founders for their vision and all those whose contributions had brought the Institution to its present high level.

President Kufuor announced a support package for the school, including the building of a girls dormitory block, bungalows for tutors, a bus and the provision of a security wall to ward off criminals. Besides, the Aboabo-Parkoso road, running in front of the school, has also been awarded on contract and he directed the Regional Minister to ensure that the project was delivered on schedule. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, in an address read for him said quality education was not just about academic excellence but also high levels of morality.

The Education Fund he has set up would therefore, have achieved its objective, if education succeeded to mould the quality of life of the people.

Nana Boakye Debra-Ansah, Asokore-Mamponghene, appealed to the Ghana Education Service (GES) to reserve a quota of high school admission to localities where the schools were sited. The Headmaster, Mr. Alex K. Conduah, said there was an urgent need for the expansion of the facilities at the school to cope with the growing student population. He praised the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) for the immense support it was giving to the school and said the association had already provided it with an administration block, a 38-seater bus, a computer laboratory and a staff bungalow.