Government asked to rehabilitate schools

Tinkong (E/R), April 21, GNA-Nana Ampem Darko, chief of Asempanaye in the Akuapem North District, has called on the government to as a matter of emergency, rehabilitate school buildings in the area to facilitate teaching and learning.

He said because many of the structures posed a threat to the lives of teachers and pupils, some parents refused to send their children to those schools.

Nana Ampem Darko said these when assemblyman of the Tinkong Electoral Area, Alhaji Mohammed Muftao and Mr David King, Public Affairs Officer of the America Embassy, paid a courtesy call on him at his palace on Wednesday.

The chief cited the Asempaneye L/A Primary School, which he said had not been rehabilitated since it was built in 1963 accounting for its low enrolment.

Ms Dorothy Obeng, the headteacher and only teacher, said since September, last year, enrolment had increased from 18 to 38 pupils. She, however, expressed dissatisfaction that almost all the pupils left for other schools that had better infrastructure and adequate number of teachers.

Mr Asifo Boafo, a member of the School Management Committee, said even though the assembly provided roofing sheets and cement for the building of a new block of classrooms, the project was abandoned due to the lack of funds.

He, therefore, appealed to the government and non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) to assist in completing the project.

Alhaji Muftao who conducted Mr King round a new clinic that was constructed with HIPC fund, at Tinkong, appealed to the Ministry of Health to ensure that health personnel were posted there and medical equipment also provided to improve health delivery in the area.

Mr King said he would hold consultations with the America Embassy Committee for Rural Development for the necessary support for education in the area and urged the people to solicit assistance from NGOs. He presented books to the Nyamebekyere L/A Primary school and also four footballs to the people of Tinkong towards the development of sports in the area.