Veep commends people of Ntotroso

The Vice-President, Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur has commended Barima Twereku Ampem III, Paramount Chief of Ntotroso, and the indigenes for using their own resources to establish the College of Nursing at Ntotroso (CoNN).

The Vice-President gave the commendation during an address of a grand durbar to climax a week-long celebration of the biennial Apomasu Yam Festival of the chiefs and people of Ntotroso in the Asutifi North District of Brong-Ahafo Region.

The theme for the celebration was: “Promoting, Empowering and Sustaining the Girl-Child Education, the Role of Traditional Authorities”.

Mr Amissah-Arthur said the initiative of the chief was laudable as government alone could not provide for the needs of the people.

He said though a community initiative, the institution commenced as a public institution under the Ministry of Health and assured the traditional council and the management of the institution of government’s commitment to support the College with the provision of infrastructure and other facilities.

Mr Amissah-Arthur expressed worry that a recent report by the Ghana Education Service indicates that more girls continued to drop-out of school and thus implored traditional rulers and all stakeholders to collaborate with government to identify effective means to reverse the trend.

Responding to earlier appeals by Barima Ampem, the Vice-President pledged to facilitate the provision of a befitting school bus for the CoNN to aid the practical and clinical activities of the trainee-nurses outside the campus.

Mr Amissah-Arthur also promised to liaise with the Minister of Roads and Highways to ensure the completion of the river Tano bridge between Ntotroso and Achirensua that was started in the era of the New Patriotic Party but remains uncompleted.

That would not only boost economic activities in the area but would also shorten their travel times to places like Kumasi and other southern parts of the country, he said.

Mr Joseph Benhazin Daha, Member of Parliament (MP) for Asutifi North, said there was the need for traditional authorities to engage parents as they seek to prevent adolescent and teenage girls from engaging in promiscuity and promote girl-child education.

Mr Daha also urged educational authorities, particularly teachers to create the enabling school environment to sustain the interest of the girl-child in school.

Mr Derek Boateng, Senior Manager, Sustainability and External Relations of Newmont Gold Ghana Limited (NGGL), Ahafo Mine, said the company supported the Apomasu festival because its objectives are consistent with the company’s core values of respecting the culture, norms and values of it host communities.

In a welcoming address Barima Ampem recalled the genesis and the process of establishing the CoNN and explained the idea came about because Ntotroso was surrounded by second cycle schools in all the major towns in the Asutifi North District.

Hence, the CoNN would provide an avenue for qualified Senior High School graduates in the District, interested in pursuing career in nursing to further their education, he said.

Among the dignitaries at the event included Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development; Dr Henry Seidu Daanaa, Minister for Chieftaincy, Culture and Traditional Affairs; and Mr Eric Opoku, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister.