Akim Wenchi (Eastern Region) 15 April ?99
Miss Ghana 1998, Afia Owusuaa-Marfo, was in Akim Wenchi in the Kwaebibirem district of the Eastern region to solicit financial assistance for street children.
Her visit was at the instance of the Salvation Army Church. The district chief executive, Mr Korankye Ababio, asked her to encourage and promote the ideals of Ghanaians culture wherever she goes and let the quest for peace, love and harmony feature well in her messages.
Mr Ababio also asked her to use her position to promote and educate the youth on their civic responsibilities and the dangers of social evils like drug abuse, sexual promiscuity, teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS.
The DCE said he was disturbed that despite the campaign on mass school enrolment, there are reports of increasing incidence of irregular attendance at the basic school level as a result of children engaging in diamond winning, petty trading and other odd jobs to earn some income.
Mr Ababio urged parents not to shirk their responsibility to educate their children, saying "formal education is the birth right of every child". Miss Owusuaa-Marfo promised to continue working to improve the conditions of street children and the deprived in the society generally.
