Ghana is committed to development goals - MP

Apam (C/R), May 25, GNA - The government will implement the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) to the letter for the full benefit of all, Mr Sam Quarm, MP for Gomoa East, has stated. Speaking at a seminar organised by the Panfokrom Women's Training Institute (PWTI), he said the MDG of the United Nations, had 191 member countries including Ghana.

He said the eight goals Ghana had started implementing included the Poverty Reduction Strategy, Child Mortality, Maternal Mortality, Women's Empowerment, Girl-Child Education, and Hunger Reduction. Mr Quarm praised the staff, Board and other stakeholders for sustaining the Institute over the past 50 years and urged them to sustain it, adding that, "When women are well educated there would be improvement through discipline and self confidence". The DCE for Gomoa, Madam Joyce Aidoo, stressed the need for women to pursue higher education and to acquire skills to be self-supporting and sufficient.

She advised the people to be mindful of HIV/AIDS and to refrain from indiscriminate and casual sex.

Madam Aidoo urged the people to register with the District Health Insurance Scheme to get access to cheaper quality health-care delivery. Madam Rebecca Ampah-Korsah, Headmistress of the Institute, established by the colonial government and turned into women's training institute, the first in the country and the only one in the Central Region in January 17, 1957.

She noted that even though it is the first of 21 in the country the Institute needed rehabilitation and expansion.

Madam Ampah-Korsah called on the government, the District Assembly, organisations and individuals for assistance in preparation for its Golden Jubilee next year.

She said the Institute started with only 16 women could now boast of 200 intakes annually, adding that, it had turned out over 2,500 graduates some of whom were now matrons in higher institutions.