KEEA District inaugurates youth club

Elmina, March 3, GNA - The Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem (KEEA) District of the Central Region in collaboration with KEEA's sister city of Ottawa in Canada on Friday inaugurated a youth club for the district, at Elmina.

The club, which currently has 100 members drawn from the junior secondary schools in the district, under the supervision of 25 teachers is open to all adolescents, both in and out of school, and is among others, geared towards providing a platform for their proper grooming to enable them become responsible adults in future.

Inaugurating a nine-member executive of the club, Mr Frank Appiah, presiding member of the District Assembly, stated that the district was fully committed to the club and would do everything to ensure its success.

He suggested to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to set up similar clubs in all the districts to prepare the youth for the future to enable them play important roles in the country. Mr George Frank Asmah, District Chief Executive of KEEA hoped the club would impact positively on the performance of students in the district, particularly in the BECE.

He paid tribute to Nana Ato Arthur, Deputy Central Regional Minister, whom he described as a visionary, who initiated the establishment of the club, during his tenure of office, as the DCE. Mr Asmah commended the delegation from the city of Ottawa for gracing the occasion and also for their collaborative effort in ensuring the establishment of the club, and expressed the hope that the gesture would further strengthen the relationship between Ghana and Canada. Mr Steve Kanellakos, Deputy City Manager of Ottawa in-charge of community and protective services, who led a six-member delegation to the function, said the club would be modelled along the lines of a "boys and girls club" of the City of Ottawa.

According to him, the club in Ottawa, which has been in existence for the past 50 years, had produced lawyers, judges and other professionals from among its members, who were contributing meaningfully to development the city of Ottawa.

Mr Kanellakos, on behalf of his city, promised to provide an ambulance for the KEEA District Hospital, which he said would arrive in the country by the end of September, to enhance the work of the hospital.

He also donated two sets of jersey, a number of water bottles, 50 footballs and a football pump, 20 trophies and pens, worth 3,000 Canadian dollars to the club members, which were received on their behalf by the DCE.

Mrs Kate Amartey, out-going KEEA District Director of Education stated that the importance of cultural benefits to be mutually derived by both Ghana and Canada in respect of the various youth clubs could not be over-emphasised.

She expressed the hope that the club would provide the "essential ingredients" for the youth to develop their talents for their economic benefits, to promote the development of the district.

Members of the club had earlier held a mock assembly session, which deliberated on issues like teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, sanitation and the National Heath Insurance Scheme.

The executives of the club are Salamatu Halidu, president, Justice Hollison, vice-president, Gregory Afful, secretary, Clara Annan, assistant secretary and Eric Mfordjour, organizing secretary. The others are Emmanuel Ibrahim, treasurer, Sabina Banfu, public relations officer, with Patience Dodoo and Samuel Boateng as members without portfolios.