Government Commended For Model Schools Concept

The headmistress of the Odorgonno Senior High School, Mrs. Mary Amankwah, has showered immense praises on the NPP Government for its commitment to improve the poor infrastructural facilities of hitherto deprived schools.

Mrs. Amankwah showed her gratitude for the facelift of her school when Hon. Mrs. Oboshie Sai Cofie, Minister of Information and National Orientation paid a visit to the Odorgonno Senior High School as part of what has come to be institutionalised as Media Walkabout. On the tour with the Minister included the Deputy Minister of Information, Hon Frank Agyekum, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey (M.P for Weija Constituency and also the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and PSI), Mr. Kofi Amponsah Bediako (Government Spokesperson on Social Services) and some staff of the Ministry of Information and National Orientation.

Conducting the Minister, her entourage, and newsmen round the school, the headmistress noted that there has been a marked difference in what she described as the old and new Odorgonno. She said the old Odorgonno used to have only three classroom blocks on the over 106.3 acre plot of land. However, owing to the foresight of the present government, the new Odorgonno can boast of seventeen new projects, most of which have been completed, with a few on-going.

Mrs. Amankwah mentioned some of the new projects as Assembly Hall, a dining hall and kitchen, a home economics flat, two storey boys and girls dormitories, five masters’ bungalows, three classroom blocks, a computer lab, an infirmary, and a host of others. She, on behalf of the staff and students of the school, commended government for adding the institution to the model schools. She said they will strive hard academically to justify the investments made in the school.

Hon. Mrs. Oboshie Sai Cofie was gratified at the massive infrastructural developments in the school. She encouraged the students to study hard. She reminded them of the numerous interventions of government towards improving the education and welfare of the youth, and Ghanaians in general. She cited some of these interventions as the Capitation Grant, School Feeding Programme, NHIS, New Educational Reforms, among others.

The Information and National Orientation Minister was particularly happy to learn from the staff that at least the flagbearer of the largest opposition party in the country, Prof. Mills had visited the school and had graciously appreciated government interventions at upgrading the school and other model ones. She expressed the hope that teachers will endeavour to inculcate in the youth the tenets of National Orientation Pillars.

The M.P for Weija Constituency, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, commended Hon. Oboshie for the visit. She used the occasion to wish the students well in their on-going examinations.

At the Ghanaian Times offices, Hon. Oboshie said she was enthused at the improvements at the New Times Corporation with each passing day. She noted that her visit was to enable the two outfits brainstorm on their challenges and to identify areas of collaboration that will inure to the benefit of them all.

The Information and National Orientation Minister once again did not hide her displeasure at the wave of sensationalism that is sweeping across the Ghanaian media landscape. She admonished editors and managers of newspapers to try and balance commercial interests with that of the public good. She was not happy that Ghanaian journalists are not winning international awards and announced that her Ministry is planning of organising a series of workshops in a bid to enhance the quality of journalism in the country.

The editor of the Spectator, one of the newspapers of the New Times Corporation admitted that gone are the days when a Minister of State would pick up his phone and order what should go into print, especially, the editorial. He was satisfied with the current non-interference of government in their content. The Managing Director of the corporation, Mr. Kofi Asumang said his establishment will endeavour always endeavour to be accurate in their reportage.

The Minister and her team also visited the Ghana Publishing Company where she advised them to revamp their publishing sector so as to be attractive in this era of competition. She also entreated them to train young staff to make up for the rapid rate of staff attrition, which she observed to be a normal phenomenon. Ghana Publishing Company is the publisher of all Legislative enactments and produces some of government stationery requirements.