Vice-President advises students against social vices

Cape Coast, March 8, GNA-The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Saturday advised students to avoid seclusion in academic life but rather be aware of the nation's aspirations to enable them to integrate into the fast changing world.

"Success in any endeavour requires adequate preparation. A senior high school student ought to have the maturity and awareness to impact on national life even before the choice of profession is made at the tertiary level", he declared.

Vice President Mahama, who made these remarks at the 98th Speech and Prize Giving Day of Adisadel College at Cape Coast said life would be less meaningful if they scored distinction in all their examinations but failed to score similar grades in the world and urged the students to remain alert and use the opportunities available to enhance their talents and contribute to the growth of the country.

They should also learn to be responsible, exercise their civic rights wisely and vote for progress to help enrich the legacy of freedom this country enjoys due to good governance.

The Vice President warned them against indulgence in acts of indiscipline such as drug abuse, robbery, examination malpractices, truancy, rioting and sexual escapades in order not to become social liabilities.

"Sobriety, self-restraint, respect and hard work count a lot in life for they are the touchstones of civility and good breeding" he stressed, adding that, they should avoid words and actions that stunt not only their normal and spiritual development but also inimical to their own interest and that of the country.

He paid glowing tribute to the founding fathers of the school, saying the high premium they placed on moral soundness as a foundation for effective academic work and character formation had paid well because many illustrious citizens of the nation are products of the school.

Vice President Mahama said the GetFund would soon construct flats to accommodate teaching staff and also provide them with a school bus. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Unique Trust Financial Services, Mr Prince Kofi Amoabeng, an old boy and the guest speaker expressed concern that African society instilled fear in children during their upbringing and they are not able to positively challenge authority because they became timid adults.

He noted that, such customs and cultures that do not help society to develop should be eschewed.

Master Kojo Awortwe Hutton-Mensah, the out-going head prefect appealed to parents not to give huge monies to their wards since most students are tempted to spend the monies in town and flout school rules. Mr Herbert Graham, head master of the school said five final year students who misconducted themselves were dismissed during the year for offences ranging from robbery to drug abuse. The Vice President earlier inaugurated various projects, including a four storey-16 unit classroom block, a new kitchen, bakery, cold store and a dispensary block. The 1983 year group of the school sponsored some of the projects and also provided science equipment worth 9,000 Ghana Cedis to the school.