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Mills challenges youth for Ghana’s development
Accra, March 5, Ghanadot/GNA-President John Evans Atta Mills
on Thursday challenged Ghana's youth to regard themselves as
citizens on whose shoulders the future development of the
nation rested.
He congratulated 20 post basic school education graduands
now in various senior high schools, on their sterling
performance at last year's Basic Education Certificate
Examinations, and reiterated Government agenda to invest in
the people through the provision of quality education to
acquire the know-how in rebuilding a better Ghana.
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A section of
last year's Basic Education Certificate's high
archivers |
"On behalf of the Government and people of Ghana, accept my
congratulations. To the awardees, I say well done.
“I share in the joy of our sons and daughters who are now
being rewarded by the State for their exceptional academic
brilliance," President Mills said at Milo President's
Independence Day Award's Ceremony, held in Accra, ahead of
the nation's celebration 52nd Independence Day celebration
on Friday, March 6, 2009.
The annual Awards ceremony, instituted in 1993, is one of
the ways the State is honouring post basic school pupils for
their brilliance performance at the Basic Education
Certificate Examination (BECE), and to encourage the youth
to make the sky their limit.
Each awardee gets a full four years’ Government scholarship
in post basic education institutions covering boarding and
lodging, in addition and a cash prize of GH¢ 400, a book
prize, a certificate signed jointly by the President and the
Minister for Education, a special plaque, and a special
dinner for all award winners and their teachers sponsored by
the Nestle Ghana Limited, Fiesta Royal Hotel and Readwide
Limited.
Additionally, three of the award winners are selected to
attend a summer camp in the United States of America and
Denmark.
The recipients, a boy and girl from each region who are now
in various Senior High Schools, are Gloria Adoma Demitia
Mensah, from St. Lisbert Junior High School (JHS) and
Kwabena Ababio Britwum, from Martyrs of Uganda JHS, both in
Ashanti region, Grace Ayiwa Fosu, St Theresa’s Roman
Catholic JHS and David Nkansah, Grace Preparatory JHS, both
in Brong Ahafo.
Esther Korkor Addo-Kumi and Leslie Atta Akplah are both from
Topp District Assembly JHS in the Central Region while
Judith Edem Foli of Madonna School and Frimpong Y. Manso of
the Joduro Integrated School, are the winners from the
Eastern Region.
From the Greater Accra region are Annie Sarah Benson-Tambo
of New Gbawe Experimental JHS and Solomon Nii Martey of
Prampram District Assembly JHS, while Chiwasine Hanifa
Iddrisu from Dahin Sheli JHS and Abdul Rashid Alhassan from
Tamale International School are from the Northern Region.
The others are Yvonne P. Asomoning of St. Charles Lawnga JHS
and Josbert Abasa Ayamvire of Salibga JHS are from the Upper
East Region while Ishak N.Qudiratu of St. Francis JHS and
Mahama Baleng Wutor of Tumu JHS, are from the Upper West
Region.
Esther Lilian Opusumah of Mater Ecclesiae JHS and Lawson
Bosso-King of Kabore JHS are from the Volta Region while
Ophelia Esi Dickson of John Bitar Preparatory School and
Mutusala Kuma of Wisdom International School are the winners
from the Western region.
President Mills reiterated national unity, saying “we must
let the things that unite us fly above the things that
divide us.”
Re-echoing the theme of this year’s celebration of
independence; “Unity and Peace, Pillars of National
Development,” President Mills urged the Ghanaians to be
faithful and loyal to Ghana, the Motherland at all times.
He urged the Awardees to be proud of their achievement, be
reminded them that whatever talent they had was given to
them by God, and they should not forget to pray for God’s
continued guidance.
The President reiterated his message of humility also to the
students, and entreated them to be honest as they strive for
excellence.
“Never cease to be respectful to your parents and teachers.
Your academic brilliance should not make you think that you
are more important than those who are helping you acquire
knowledge,” President Mills said.
He said he would insist that the Minister of Education
monitored their performance to ensure that the investment
the nation was making in them yielded the desired results
because their collective know-how would go a long way in
building a better Ghana.
Education Minister Mr Alex Tettey Enyo, gave the assurance
that Government would not relent in its efforts to provide
the best form of educational opportunities so that this
nation was guaranteed a prosperous future.
In a message the school children stressed the need for
national peace and unity, and appealed for calm in conflict
areas of the nation.
On behalf of the laureates, Ms Gloria Adoma Mensah expressed
appreciation to Government for its support, pledging that
they would use their achievements to study harder and better
themselves.
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