African govt's must strive for self-reliance

The Gomoa West District Chief Executive, Mr Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah, has appealed to African heads of state to initiate programmes which would make their countries self-supporting.

Addressing a parade of school children and voluntary organisations to mark the nation’s 55th independence anniversary, Mr Aidoo-Mensah said: “It is not very good to be going to your colonial master … begging for help after you have convinced the master that you are capable of managing your own affairs,” he said.

He said the zeal for independence at the time placed emphasis on education, setting a precedent that it was mainly through education that generations could also bring transformation into the country.

It was because of this, he said, that the past and the present governments had introduced many educational reforms and interventions to ensure delivery of quality education.

Mr Aidoo-Mensah said one global phenomenon that had been integrated into the educational system was Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

He said the technology now unlocked the door to business opportunities and employment and urged students to take it seriously.

He said the District Assembly with support from the government would build a post office with ICT facilities at Gomoa Pinanko, an ICT facility and a library at Gomoa Dago and Gomoa Mankessim.

Mr Aidoo-Mensah cautioned the youth against indulging in malpractices during the biometric voters’ registration exercise and the December general elections.

“It will be very disgusting for a young person with a sound mind to exchange his or her conscience for money,” he said, and cautioned them against allowing themselves to be influenced by politicians.

Ms Augusta Akyaa Sarpong, District Director of Education, called for the re-engineering of the education system to make it more responsive to national goals and aspirations.

She urged Ghanaians to condemn politicians who go to radio stations and the print medium to trade insults, beat war drums and predict mayhem.