US Peace Corp Volunteers urged to be role models

Kukurantumi (E/R), Aug. 13, GNA - The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Mohammed Ahmed Baba-Jamal, on Friday appealed to US Peace Corp Volunteers to be mindful of the cultural deference between Ghana and the US and try and live beyond reproach.

He said they would be acting as role models in communities that they would be working in.

Mr Baba-Jamal was speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of 72 new Peace Corp Volunteers at Kukurantumi after 10 weeks orientation.

He appealed to students of the schools where the volunteers would be teaching and the teaching staff of those institutions to be disciplined and offer the volunteers the normal Ghanaian hospitality.

The Deputy Chief of Mission of the US embassy, Ms Julie Furuta-Toy, appealed to the volunteers to take advantage of the opportunity offered them to develop themselves.

The Country Director of the Peace Corp Volunteers, Mr Michael Koffman, said the 72 volunteers were trained to speak 16 Ghanaian languages and cross cultural relationship and would be working in eight regions for two years.

He said the first Peace Corp Volunteers served in Ghana in 1961 and that created the opportunity for the service to be extended to over 138 countries.

Mr Koffman said next year, the Peace Corp Volunteers would be celebrating their 50th anniversary in Ghana.

Ms Grace Sebugah, the Training Director of the Peace Corp Volunteers, said for the first time there was a large number of volunteers with a wide range of age differences.