Berekum Omanhene cautions parents

Page 21, April 18, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Omanhene of the Berekum Traditional Area, Daasebre Dr Amankona-Diawuo II, has stated that with the introduction of the Capitation Grant parents have no excuse for refusing to enrol their children in school.
He said the School Feeding Programme (SFP), which had been added to the Capitation Grant, was also an added incentive to encourage parents to send their children to school.
Daasebre Amankona-Diawuo made the observation when a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Read for Wealth, presented scholarships to five students from the Berekum area. Each of the students had GH¢150.
The NGO also presented a number of bicycles valued at GH¢2,800 to selected students from junior high schools in the district.
Daasebre Amankona-Diawuo noted with concern that in recent times, children preferred watching television to reading of books to acquire knowledge.
Reading, he stressed, played a major role in academic excellence, wealth creation and economic development.
The Omanhene commended the NGO for taking the initiative to sensitise the youth to the need to inculcate the habit of reading.
Daasebre Amankona-Diawuo also thanked the NGO for its efforts to improve the standard of education in the district and urged students to take advantage of the gesture to improve upon their reading habit.
The Managing Director of Read for Wealth, Mr Yaw Asante, said his vision was to inculcate in students the culture of reading and good writing skills to push them to the top of the academic ladder.
The Project Director of the NGO, Mr Emmanuel Alou, explained that the organisation gave reading books to students and set questions for them to answer after reading them for a month.
He added that the two students whose performance were outstanding were rewarded.
Mr Aloe advised students to read extensively to prepare them adequately to face the realities of the fast changing world.