Minister launches Girl Child Education Fund

Bolgatanga, Jan. 12, GNA - The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Alhaji Awudu Yirimeah, at the weekend launched a Girl Child Education Fund for the Bolgatanga Traditional Area and appealed to corporate bodies and Businessmen to contribute to it to promote the education of girls in the area.

Alhaji Yirimeah made the appeal when he launched the Fund at this year's annual Adakoya festival in Bolgatanga. It was established by the Paramount Chief of the Area, Naba Martin Abilba the III and his sub-chiefs.

Adakoya is a festival of thanksgiving to the spirits and ancestors of the land for providing peace and good health for general development. It is also an occasion for renewing and strengthening the bond of unity among the people of the land.

The Deputy Minister commended the Bolga Naba and his sub-chiefs for establishing the Fund.

He said the Government alone could not shoulder the provision of education and asked private businessmen and corporate bodies to see themselves as partners in the promotion of education. Alhaji Yirimeah pointed out that the poverty in the northern part of the country could be reduced if not eradicated, when the citizens are empowered with education.

"Education serves as a means of strengthening the family, provides economic security, as well as encourages savings for the enhancement of social life", the Deputy Minister stressed. He said it was against this background that the Government was adopting vigorous and pragmatic educational policies, which had started yielding positive results.

He mentioned some of those policies put in place by the Government as the capitation Grant, the School Feeding Programme, and the upgrading of secondary schools into model ones. Alhaji Yirimeah explained that the capitation grant was responsible and accountable for more than 20 per cent increase in school enrolment nationwide.

He exhorted parents to take advantage of the government's education policies by sending children to school since that was the best legacy they could bequeath to their children.

He cautioned the youth to be mindful of selfish politicians who would want to use them to foment trouble.

He urged them to eschew hooliganism, laziness, drunkenness, and promote hard work, discipline, perseverance, and determination. "It is only when you exhibit these qualities that you would become more responsible citizens in future", he admonished. Mr Isaac Nsoh Amoah, the Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, called on chiefs to release land for development.