Every child must read and write – Appiah Kubi

The National Democratic Congress (NDC’s) parliamentary candidate in the Akuapem North constituency, Mr Yaw Appiah Kubi, has assured 100 per cent literacy for all children of school going age in the constituency.

He said his plan was in line with the Better Ghana Agenda of President John Dramani Mahama.

According to Mr. Appiah Kubi, citizens can contribute better to the national development effort when they are able to read, write and proffer alternatives.

The charismatic candidate of the NDC spoke at the first ever speech and prize giving day for the Kwamoso Primary and JHS in the Akuapem North district of the Eastern region.

The event was organized as part of a fundraising effort for the construction of an ICT centre and the purchase of computers and accessories for the school.

Appiah Kubi, a local economic development expert and a former assembly member for the Osaebronmu electoral area at Akropong in the Akuapem North District, expressed the believe that access to free education in various fields of endeavours, can also help reduce the incidence of child labour in many parts of the country and raise a critical mass of professionals for every sphere of the economy.

Statistics from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) indicate that 1.9 million Ghanaian children between the ages of five and 17 are engaged in work that is harmful to their mental and physical development.

According to the GSS report, large numbers of those children had been separated from their families and were engaged in perilous work, such as, the transportation of heavy loads, domestic services, and stone quarrying.

The figures were disclosed at a media launch of the World Day against Child Labour in Accra organized by the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and other Civil Society Organisations.

The colourful event brought together parents, teachers and the traditional authorities of the area.

Mr Soglo, the headmaster of the school expressed excitement at the decision of the parliamentary candidate to supply the school children with 5 computers and accessories by the close of the academic year.