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Reduce number of festivals in area -
Gomoa DCE
Apam, July 9, Ghanadot/GNA - Paramount Chiefs in the Gomoa
District have been urged to come together to plan "one grand
festival," to attract tourists and investors to the area.
Madam Joyce Aidoo, District Chief Executive (DCE), made the
call at a mini durbar organised by the University of Cape
Coast Chapter of the Gomoa Students Association at Apam.
It was to mark the end of their three-week outreach
programme to teach in schools, which performed poorly in the
last Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
The DCE noted that the Akwanbo festival, the Ahobaketsewa,
Ahobakese and the "Gomoa two weeks" were celebrated in what
she called, "piece meal" in the communities, adding that,
"They are a waste of resources and time".
"No wonder poverty is rife in the District since new clothes
are acquired for festivals and citizens working outside the
District are compelled to come home for the festivals", she
said.
Madam Aidoo noted that these activities also contributed to
the high rate of teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and the poor
standard of education.
She advised parents and guardians to use their scarce
resources on the education of their children and wards
instead of festivals and commended the students for their
efforts.
The DCE assured the students of the support of the District
Assembly in the programme organised every semester.
Professor Kobina Yankson, Head of the Zoology Department and
Director of the Quality Control of the University, who is
also the patron of the Association commended the students
for spending their holidays on a "profitable ventures".
Prof Yankson, a former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University
urged the students to target parents and guardians to
sensitise them to appreciate the importance of education.
He expressed concern about chieftaincy and land disputes in
the District, which retarded development and led to poverty.
Dr. Samuel Mbroh, a Medical Officer at the University
Hospital and also a patron, urged citizens from the District
to take interest in the teaching profession to contribute to
the raising of educational standards in the area.
Mrs. Augustina King, Deputy District Director of Education,
expressed concern about the refusal of Junior Secondary
School (JSS) three students to attend classes after they had
registered for the BECE and the inability of some parents to
care for their children.
Mr. George Yamoah, President of the Association, said
students noted that absenteeism by teachers and pupils and
lack of parental support contributed to the low standard of
education in the area.
GNA
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