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Afenyo-Markin distributes laptops to Effutu teachers, pledges continuous support for education
Hundreds of teachers in the Effutu Constituency received a major boost to their work on Tuesday as Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for Effutu, presented 79 laptops as part of the One Teacher One Laptop initiative.
He described the gesture as “not charity, but an investment in the very people who invest in children.”
Addressing teachers, education officials, and community leaders at an event in the constituency, the MP said the distribution was driven by requests from teachers themselves and not by political season.
Mr Afenyo-Markin, also the Minority Leader, revealed that in 2022, 2,015 laptops were distributed in the constituency.
“The latest batch targets teachers posted from 2023 to date, ensuring no new teacher is left behind in the digital transition,” he stated.
The MP paid glowing tribute to teachers, noting the heavy moral weight of the profession compared to its material rewards.
The Effutu legislator cited that teachers who bought books with their own salaries, stayed after the closing bell, and chose to serve Effutu children over better-paying jobs elsewhere.
He promised that the laptop initiative would continue “for as long as I have the privilege to serve this constituency.”
The MP also responded to the Municipal Director of Education’s appeal about a leaking office roof and worn furniture and pledged that a contractor would be assigned immediately, saying, “We can no longer ask our education leaders to be water forecasters with buckets,” he said.
Teachers who received the laptops, including Madam Agens Shey, Headmistress, Ayiribi Yankson, M/A Basic School, expressed gratitude and promised to “make good use of it” for lesson planning, record keeping, and research.
Mr Isaac Benyin, an official with the Ghana Education Service, Effutu Municipal Education Directorate, Winneba, who was also a beneficiary, thanked the MP and pledged that the laptops would be used for its intended purpose to promote holistic education in the constituency.
In all, 100 laptops were intended to be presented, and the remaining 21 are expected to be distributed when school resumes. –GNA
Medical Doctor and dietician, Dr Bernice Korkor Asare, has urged women to take greater responsibility for their lifestyle choices, particularly their eating habits and levels of physical activity, to help reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
According to her, although, some breast cancer risk factors, such as family history and certain reproductive factors, may not be within an individual’s control, lifestyle choices offer an opportunity for people to take preventive action.
She made this known during a talk on the topic: “Role of diet in breast cancer prevention” organised by Times Ladies Association of the New Times Corporation, publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator, in Accra on Thursday.
The event themed “Breast Cancer Awareness- Promoting Early Detection, Healthy Eating and Prevention.” 
She noted that having a risk factor did not automatically mean a person would develop breast cancer, but could increase the likelihood of developing the disease compared with someone without that particular risk factor.
“Having close relatives who have had breast cancer, particularly a mother, sister or daughter, may increase the risk, although not everyone with a family history will develop the disease,” Dr Asare opined. Read More.
By Adizatu K. Munkaila
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A group of compassionate friends from Innovation Gospel Impact last Friday visited the management, teachers and learners of the Street Academy in Accra.
The visit was to interact to get a deeper insight into the operations of the Academy that houses hundreds of street and underprivileged children and find ways to support them.
The team was led by Rev. Dr Isaac Apenteng Yeboah, a former Director for West African Mailbox Club and Director for Prisons Support Foundation, and Rev. Dale Sutherland from Washington DC.
The call, according to the visitors was occasioned by reports about the struggles of the Academy despite the occasional support it enjoys from individuals and some corporate entities.
Briefing them, the Founder and Executive Director of the Academy, Dr Ataa Lartey, thanked them for the concern showed, indicating that “this is a major boost for both teachers and learners; knowing that their plight is known by people outside their premises.”
According Dr Lartey, the Academy had planned to undertake a number of project to enhance teaching and learning and also procure facilities for the children with keen interest in sports but had to shelve those plans for lack of finance.
He told the team that their biggest concerns were the monthly utility bills that takes a toll on their finances.
“We have a piece of land we planned to turn into an astro turf pitch to train the younger ones whose interests lies in making a career out of football, however, we have been unable to commence because there is no money now,” he said.
Dr Lartey expressed gratitude to the teachers who have dedicated their lives to training these children, rather than going for well-paying jobs and hoped that with time, their conditions of engagement would improve.
Moved by the plight of the Academy, the group donated a cash amount of Gh₵3,000 to settle its water bills.
They described as unfortunate the conditions of learners and teachers of the Academy and pledged to continuously support their operations to realize the dream to build a better future for the unfortunate children.
The group offered to support the school with its monthly utility bills, feeding and staff allowance and urged the Academy staff to remain in constant touch with them.
The Street Academy is located at the Accra Art Center and offers brilliant but needy the chance to pursue their educational dreams by enrolling them in public schools with others offered training in sports and cultural activities.
By Spectator Reporter
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