Amanokrom mark Odwira festival
Aggrey Memorial School lifts drama trophy
Amanokrom, Akwapim (Eastern Region) 28 October
2002 - The Chairman of the Council of State, Professor Alex A. Kwapong, has
appealed to all Akuapems to bury their differences and to ensure peace and
unity to enable them to preserve the legacy bequeathed to them by their
forefathers.
He asked the people to pool their resources for
national development and said good governance, peace and unity and stability
were prerequisites for economic growth and prosperity.
Prof Kwapong, said these at a durbar of the
chiefs and people of Amanokrom in the Akuapem traditional area to climax their
weeklong Odwira festival at Amanokrom. He noted that, any society worth its
salt should possess norms and values to regulate individual and communal life.
Prof Kwapong said the destruction of cultural
values through ignorance or wilful neglect could lead the country into chaos
and anarchy. Prof. Kwapong said, "Building scientific and technical
capacities would only be successful if we have a strong cultural base.”
He expressed concern about the spate of indiscipline
in the country, as evident by unethical behaviour, embezzlement of funds and
corruption. He also cited, "the growing refusal of some people to
contribute to the provision of services and the lack of maintenance of social
facilities as acts misconduct.
Prof. Kwapong appealed to the youth to abstain
from social vices and advised parents to cooperate with teachers in the
training of children. He deplored the attitude of parents who physically
assaulted teachers for punishing their children.
Oyeeman Wereko Ampem II, Chief of Amanokrom,
noted that democracy was being consolidated in the country and commended the
government, political parties, the media, the judiciary and the people for the
achievement.
Oyeeman Ampem, who is also Gyasehene of the
Akwapim Traditional Area called for peace and stability in the country. On the
state of Ghana's economy, he said it was not enough for government to ensure
macro-economic stability alone, but there was the need for an improvement in
the overall economy.
Oyeeman Ampem said: "In the final
analysis, it is this that would create jobs, improve the well-being of the
people thereby moving the country from a low-income to a middle-income
status."
He said the Akwapim Gyase Education Fund,
established in 1995 currently stood at ¢170m. He said ¢64.4m had already been
spent on 163 brilliant but needy students in secondary and tertiary
institutions, while this year, ¢23.9m had
been disbursed to 43 students.
Oyeeman Ampem expressed concern about the low
educational standards in the area despite the financial commitment and the
provision of educational infrastructure. He said the European Union (EU)
through its Micro Project Management Unit Fund had released ¢50m for the
construction of KVIP at Amanokrom.
Oyeeman Ampem stated that the peace in the
Gyase area had enhanced development and appealed to towns that have seceded
from the Akuapem traditional Council to rescind the decision.
GRi…/
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Cape Coast (Central Region) 28 October 2002 -
Aggrey Memorial Zion Secondary School lifted the trophy in this year's student
drama festival dubbed "STUDRAFEST 2002" at Cape Coast.
It bagged 70.5 points to win the competition
with a play "A dream deferred" written by Ms Rhoda Acquah, a form
three student of the school. Holy Child School was second with 69 points in a
drama entitled, "the pact" by Aduode Buabe followed by Wesley Girls
High School with "cost of justice" written by Ruth Anane Ankrah and
Fidelia Famiyeh.
The best actor and actress trophies went to
Kweku Anane Appiah-Darteh of St. Augustine's College and Aisha Keita of Aggrey
Memorial respectively. Each of the award winners also received certificates and
100,000 cedis donated by the sponsors including, Afram Publications, Ghana Book
Trust and Unimax Macmillan.
Mfantseman Girls School was fourth, St
Augustine's College, fifth and Adisadel, sixth. Ghana Secondary Technical, the
only school from the Western Region was seventh, Mfantsipim School, eighth and
University Practice Secondary, ninth.
Emmanuel Quao, Regional Director of the Centre
for National Culture, said the festival was instituted to promote the artistic
talents of students. He praised the students for the "impressive
write-ups" and urged them to strive to help in finding a solution to the
moral problems facing the society.
GRi…/
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