Politicians urged to fulfil promises

Atrobinya (GAR), Sept. 13, GNA - Nana Obiri Boahen, Minister of State at the Ministry for the Interior on Thursday charged politicians to be committed to fulfilment of promises made to the citizenry to engender confidence in the electorate.

He said it was not encouraging for politicians to shun the interests of the vast majority of Ghanaians who gave them the power and run around to the same people during elections to seek for votes. Nana Boahen made the call at Atronbinya near Asutsuare in the Dangme West District when he presented paper flags, caps and T-shirts to toddlers and teachers of Atrobinya L/A Primary School to mark "My First Day at School".

The Minister who expressed shock at the poor infrastructure, low enrolment, and the poor conditions at which the children were studying within the community said there was the need to increase incentives for supervisors and teachers within rural communities to motivate more staff to work in the area.

He said religious bodies should also support Government in its development agenda by providing infrastructure to deprived communities in which they worshipped to improve the living standard of their followers.

Nana Boahen said it was unfortunate that although some students within rural settings were hardworking and intelligent, poverty was depriving them access to quality education.

He advised the children to study hard and not be discouraged by the condition they found themselves in since the future always had something better for them.

Mr. Fred Huago, Ghana Education Service Circuit Supervisor for the area, appealed to Government to come to the aid of the school, which had only four classroom blocks, compelling them to combine two classes within one room and teach them at the same time. He said despite the introduction of the Capitation Grant, enrolment was low within the area as a result of extreme poverty in the area, which made it difficult for parents to afford school uniforms, shoes and other school materials.

Mr Huago said those who were even in school come in without shoes and in tattered clothes, adding that the situation at neighbouring communities such as Lubuse and Nyapienye were even worse since the pupils would have to walk through massive mud during the raining season to school.

He said the school with an enrolment of over 200 had four teachers at post, and the teaching assistants recruited under the National Youth Employment Programme had stop coming to the school due the delay in the payment of their salaries.

"The few teachers we have at post are not accommodated here. Both the male and female teachers come to school on bicycles, meaning that if their bicycles develop any fault then they would not be in school that day", Mr. Huago added. The Circuit Supervisor also appealed to government to include them in the School Feeding Programme to motivate more pupils into school. 13 Sept. 07