Support government by paying taxes -Asantehene

Esreso, (Ash), Dec 7, GNA -Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has said that it was time business organisations and individuals fulfilled their tax obligations to enhance the socio-economic development of the country.

He indicated that government collects taxes for development but regretted that many organisations and individuals fail to honour their tax obligations, thus making it difficult for the government to meet its targeted development objectives.

Speaking at the inauguration of Opoku Ware Girls Vocational/Technical Institute campus at Esreso near Kumasi on Saturday, the Asantehene said it was time people changed their attitudes towards tax payment.

He commended the proprietress of the Institute, Mrs Vida Nsiah for her contribution towards girls education and said this was what the government expected since the government alone cannot shoulder all the responsibilities aimed at enhancing development and well-being of all.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu, however, called on the government to focus its attention on the establishment and development of vocational institutions to enable the youth to acquire trades that would make them self-supporting.

He gave the school 50 million cedis, adding that, education was his priority and he would do all he could to promote education and called on all Ghanaians to support to ensure quality education, especially for girls.

Mrs Nsiah said the school was started in 1975 out of her concern for the welfare and empowerment of women.

She said through the instrumentality of the late Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, Asantehene, a 30-acre land was acquired at Esreso for the construction of permanent buildings.

Mrs Nsiah said through the benevolence of an American Field Service Volunteer, who was the guest of the school, she arranged with her family and friends in Belgium who contributed equipment and an amount of 50 million cedis to propel the development of the site.

She said the school, which now has 720 students with staff strength of 81, runs programmes in catering, dressmaking, hairdressing and fashion. It prepares students for National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) Grades 1 and II and the Social Welfare Certificate as well as City and Guilds Part 1 Certificate.

She said lack of funding has always been a problem and therefore, appealed to the government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and philanthropists who believe in girls' education to come to the aid of the school.

Dr Edward Osei-Kofi, chairman of the board of governors of the school, said the focus of the board was to assist management to formulate useful policies to enable the school to achieve its mission.