By William Yaw Owusu.
Saturday,July1,2006.
Senior Minister, J.H. Mensah has said there is an abuse of statistics as far as the country’s standard of education and levels of poverty are concerned.
“Some people are misinterpreting the statistics. It is false to record 80 percent school enrollment when children continue to score zero per cent in ordinary basic certificate examination. Enrollment is nothing if the children cannot pass,” at the launch of Akuapem Community Foundation in Accra on Thursday.
The Foundation, which seeks to mobilize time, talent, treasure to improve the quality of life of the people of Akuapem in the Eastern Region, and beyond, is making quality education its priority.
It is believed to be the first community foundation in the country and has thus set up an endowment fund, which will be managed by the Merchant Bank, and more than 10,000 people from Akuapem are expected to contribute not less than ¢10,000 every month to ensure total development of the area.
Mr. Mensah said, “some people have led us into baseless argument by using statistics to suggest that four out of the ten regions of Ghana are poor but this cannot be right. Let us not be deceived about some of the things we hear. Let us come out with practical statistics that will help accelerate development”.
He said the time has come for all stakeholders to see teachers as the driving force behind the country’s development and respond to their needs appropriately.
“Teachers nowadays see themselves as occupying hardship positions they sometimes resent and take up their frustrations on our children which is detrimental to our educational sector”, he added.
Professor Alex Kwapong, former Chairman of the Council of state who chaired the function said Akuapem was the citadel of education and it was unacceptable that the children were scoring zero per cent in examinations.
The president of the foundation Paul Koranteng said they would provide accommodation for teachers in the deprived areas of both the Akuapem North and South Districts and added “we have received international recognition and would take advantage to raise the standard of living of our people”.
Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III, Akuapemhene, said, “the protection of our heritage and the improvement of socio-economic development is a step in the right direction”.
Nana Adokua I, Akuapemhemaa and Life Patron of the foundation in a message read for her said the foundation had demonstrated the extent to which unity can promote development.
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