Over five hundred students and learners in the Okaikwei North Municipality on Wednesday joined their counterparts across the country to mark the 67th anniversary celebration of Ghana’s independence.
The event held at the Fadama Astro-turf interspersed with cultural display was attended by over twenty schools comprising students and pupils from both public and private schools in the Municipality.
Honourable Boye Laryea, the Municipal Chief Executive of Okaikwei North in a message read on his behalf by Mr. Francis K. Mensah, the Municipal Coordinating Director at the Parade entreated Ghanaians to recommit themselves to the ideals of democracy and renew their pledge to building a more inclusive and prosperous society.
He said it was only through collective actions and mutual respect that citizens could fulfill the promise of the Ghana’s potential.
Honourable Laryea indicated that all Ghanaians have a role to play as citizens in protecting the peace and tranquility of the country by being responsible citizens before, during and after the December elections.
He stated that thirty years of uninterrupted parliamentary democracy is a milestone Ghanaians have every reason to celebrate to show how far God has brought us as a united country.
“As we celebrate this day, we pride ourselves in achieving this feat and pledge to uphold the tenants of democracy even as Ghana goes to the polls again on December 7, 2024” Mr. Mensah noted.
The Okaikwei North Coordinating Director added: “Let us make Ghana proud again by consolidating our gains as a bacon of democracy in the West African Sub-region. United in diversity, let us go to the polls as one people with a common destiny and elect our leaders in peace.”
Beyond the call for national unity in the lead up to the elections, Mr. Mensah lauded the government over its resilience in sustaining the Free Senior High School Policy despite the economic downturn.
“Also Worthy of commendation is the government’s unparalleled contribution towards the study of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM education). His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia encouraging students to study STEM subjects, can help them prepare for careers in a rapidly changing world, solve complex problems, and improve quality of life”.
He urged the teachers and all Ghanaians to take a strong position in addressing sanitation issues indicating that “the future we seek to build, depends on our collective efforts in maintaining a positive posture towards our national goals and objectives.
The Municipal Education Director, Mrs. Cynthia Aboni in her remarks maintained that educators play a pivotal role in nurturing the minds of the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and change-makers.
This she said should be done alongside instilling in the learners the values of democracy, tolerance, and civic responsibility.
“Through education, we empower them to become active participants in shaping the future of our nation with attention paid to government policies, especially STEM education. As we look towards the future, let us remember the importance of investing in education and supporting the professional development of our hardworking teachers” Mrs. Aboni said.
The Okaikwei North Municipal Education Director continued “With our collective efforts, we can transform our education system and create a brighter future for generations to come. The strength of Okaikwei North Municipal can be found in building a resilient society through Education. It is through education that our community develops critical thinkers, problem solvers, and agents of positive change, through meaningful and impactful education, we equip our learners with 21st-century skills.”
Participating schools were awarded with certificates while schools who exceled in the match pass were awarded with dustbins to stress the need to keep their school compounds clean.
SOURCE: onma.gov.gh
By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson