Tuesday, March 27th 2012.
Good evening ladies and gentlemen of the ink fraternity, we welcome and thank you for responding to our invitation despite the short notice.
The Asawasi Tertiary Students’ Union (ATSU) comprises students and graduates from various Tertiary institutions who live in the Asawasi constituency, and belong to different political parties, talk of NDC, NPP, PNC, CPP and any other political party one can think of.
We wish to use this opportunity to thank all the Zongo chiefs, Ulama’a and parents both within and without the constituency, who have made it a point to get their subordinates and wards educated to the fullest, no matter the circumstances.
Ladies and gentlemen, our constituency unlike it used to be, today is seeing a tremendous improvement when it comes to matters relating to education.
As we speak, there is no single certificate or qualification that cannot be found in Asawasi constituency and thus innumerable mentors for the younger ones to look up to.
As education continues to be the bedrock of any developed society, we urge the younger ones to take their education serious and work hard toward contributing to the development of their communities.
Ladies and gentlemen, as students and professionals born and bred in Asawasi constituency, and have been witnesses to the performance of each and every Member of Parliament who have come to serve the people of Asokwa East as well as Asawasi since Nineteen Ninety-two till date, it would be a great sign of infidelity and ingratitude on our part if we fail to acknowledge the unprecedented developmental impetus of the sitting member of parliament for the constituency, Hon. Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, since his assumption of the seat in the year 2005.
He (the Hon. Member of parliament) has exhibited clearly, as part of his developmental efforts and target that education stands tall, by way of chalking the following:
• Making sure that almost all the schools within his constituency received massive infra-structural face-lift, as well as providing computer sets to almost all the schools in the constituency, thereby making the teaching and learning of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) interesting following his quest to help eradicate the shift system at the basic schools and thus making education assessable and enjoyable by all.
• Distributing thousands of mono and dual desks to over ninety percent of the schools in the constituency, as part of his effort in making Asawasi second to none when it comes to academic performance. An objective that is gradually becoming a reality.
• Facilitating the construction of a dormitory as well as a sick bay at the Kumasi Academy Senior High School (KUMACA), the only public Secondary school within the constituency.
• Supporting the Islamic Education and development fund with a sum of Five Thousand (5000) Ghana Cedis, as well as an annual pledge of same amount for a period of two years without subsequent neglect of the FUND.
• Starting the construction of a three storey library block at Aboabo No. 1, the centre of the constituency, all in the interest of enhancing the educational standard of his constituents without forgetting the need for a computer laboratory and conference hall that is about 70% complete, and situated at Asawasi just behind the community centre.
• Providing scholarships to hundreds of students into various Senior High Schools, Vocational schools, Tertiary institutions and even school of languages. An effort that has undoubtedly posed confidence in both parents and students to take education more serious than it used to be considered.
Enlisted above are just to mention few out of what the Member of Parliament for our constituency, Hon. Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak has done in enhancing the educational standard of his people, without him closing eyes on other social needs in terms of health, sanitation, security as well as employment and youth training, all these we reckon are without some difficulties.
Ladies and gentlemen, the reflection of we members of the Asawasi Tertiary Students’ Union (ATSU) on the wise saying of Benjamin Franklin “Empty your pocket into your mind and your mind shall fill your pocket” gives us the hope that the future of Asawasi and the nation at large is very bright, as much investment have been channeled and are still being channeled towards the future leaders of our dear country. A move that leaves nothing but commendation and assistance from all and sundry in sealing the development of our communities through enhancement of education, which they say is the key to success.
As we are in an election year Ladies and Gentlemen, leaders of the various political parties would come to us with different offers. We owe it on ourselves and younger ones to opt for the offer of education and job opportunities to be a priority, and not that of TOKENISM or “SIKA KAKRA”.
As we tend to wake up the youth of Asawasi Constituency in particular and the nation at large to what our focus should be, we should not forget that our lives are very precious in the sights of our families, friends, mother Ghana and finally to God. Let us desist from violence and its cause but focus on what we can do to make our families and mother Ghana proud.
The turning down of ballot-box snatching offers should be our Emblem in Asawasi and all over the country, come December 2012 general elections; this we believe would lead to peaceful co-existence and violence-free election.
The people of Asawasi should imagine the kind of sight it would be to record, a moment of joy for the youth, the Chiefs, Ulama’a (Scholars) and parents to see ourselves holding hands and shouting ALHAMDULILLAH (Praise be to Allah) for occupying higher National offices in registering our contribution to National Development.
Ladies and gentlemen, our dream stated above can only be a reality, only and only if we commit ourselves to enhancing the educational standard of our communities (Asawasi like others) where many think education is never regarded. It is about time we declare to the whole world that Asawasi is synonymous to Education and thus the need to enhance any move toward educational improvement, most especially at the constituency level.
Concluding, we are calling on the people of Asawasi to contribute towards the dream of making the constituency, A beacon of Hope for the future of Ghana by massively giving the sitting Member of parliament, Hon. Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, another platform to continue with the good works he has started.
Long live Ghana.
Long live Asawasi Constituency.
Thank you ladies and gentlemen of the media. We hope our statement would be given a fair reportage.
MUSAH AHMED
(Spokesperson)
0242-846857 / 0267-571107 / 0277-746279.
ALHASSAN BILLEY ABDUL-RAHMAN.
(General Secretary)
0244-812682.
MOHAMMED MUBARAK.
(Organizing Secretary)
0246-760841.
