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Schools must act to stop drug and
alcohol abuse – President Kufuor
Kumasi, Nov. 10, Ghanadot/GNA – President John Agyekum
Kufuor on Saturday expressed concern about the increasing
reports of drugs and alcohol abuse among students and called
on school authorities to be more vigilant and act firmly to
stop the menace.
Narcotic drugs use, he said, was not only criminal but could
be potentially injurious to health.
President Kufuor, was addressing the Golden Jubilee
Celebration of the Kumasi Academy, a Senior High School,
established by the Baptist Mission.
He encouraged the country’s students to be wary of the
onslaught of alien influences that contravened cherished
values of the society.
To survive the complex world outside the walls of the
school, he said they needed to individually reflect and
prepare on how to lead responsible lives that would enable
them to play significant roles in nation building.
President Kufuor mentioned human resource development as one
of the three-pronged priorities of the Government and said
it was on the basis of this that it was doing everything to
fully implement the Free Compulsory Universal Basic
Education (FCUBE).
He also outlined measures it had put in place to promote
quality education, focusing on the teaching of science and
technology and the mastery of Information, Communication
Technology (ICT).
He said, he was impressed with the high number of
professionals the School has turned out over the years, who
were playing critical roles in the nation with some of them
serving in the Government.
He also congratulated the founders for their vision and all
those whose contributions had brought the Institution to its
present high level.
President Kufuor announced a support package for the school,
including the building of a girls dormitory block, bungalows
for tutors, a bus and the provision of a security wall to
ward off criminals.
Besides, the Aboabo-Parkoso road, running in front of the
school, has also been awarded on contract and he directed
the Regional Minister to ensure that the project was
delivered on schedule.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, in an address read for him
said quality education was not just about academic
excellence but also high levels of morality.
The Education Fund he has set up would therefore, have
achieved its objective, if education succeeded to mould the
quality of life of the people.
Nana Boakye Debra-Ansah, Asokore-Mamponghene, appealed to
the Ghana Education Service (GES) to reserve a quota of high
school admission to localities where the schools were sited.
The Headmaster, Mr. Alex K. Conduah, said there was an
urgent need for the expansion of the facilities at the
school to cope with the growing student population.
He praised the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) for the
immense support it was giving to the school and said the
association had already provided it with an administration
block, a 38-seater bus, a computer laboratory and a staff
bungalow.
GNA
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