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First Lady inaugurates revamped 118-year-old Independence Avenue Cluster of Schools
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The First Lady, Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo-Addo, has inaugurated the newly refurbished Independence Avenue Cluster of Schools in the Asheidu-Keteke Sub-Metropolitan District in Accra.
She was accompanied by the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, former Speaker of Parliament, Dr Ernest Addison, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, and Mrs Elizabeth Kwatsoe Tawiah Sackey, Mayor of Accra, to perform the inauguration on Wednesday, September 18.
The redevelopment of the 118-year-old educational facility was done in a collaboration between the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Bank of Ghana.
The facility has an 18-unit three-storey classroom block and a three-unit nursery block, fully equipped with modern amenities such as science and computer laboratories, libraries, a staff common room, offices, a horticultural garden and a playground for students, among others.
Mrs Akufo-Addo in a speech urged all citizens to adopt the spirit of prioritising the needs of future generations, adding that the modern school would provide quality education and training for children to contribute meaningfully to the country’s development.
She pointed out that the government had made education a priority, resulting in increased access and higher enrolment figures in public schools, stressing that education was crucial for Ghana’s development.
The First Lady called on the management of the school to make good use of the facilities to ensure high-quality education whilst encouraging the students to remain disciplined and strive for success in their academic and personal endeavours.
The Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru, on his part, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders and acknowledged the significant role played by the Bank of Ghana in supporting the project.
He emphasised the importance of the new school building and called for regular maintenance of the facility in order to ensure its long-term impact on education in the community.
Dr Addison also on his part highlighted the rich history of the school, which was founded in 1906 during the British colonial era, and recounted how the school, originally known as the Accra Government Girls School, served as a centre for the education of girls, including his mother and several other women from Osu.
He recounted how the Bank of Ghana received a request for support through the former headmistress of the school, Mrs Agatha Ama Dzathor, and the then Mayor of Accra, Mr Mohammed Adjei Sowah, for the construction of a modern classroom block, which was approved through its corporate social responsibility.
The Governor praised the collaboration between the Ghana Education Service (GES), the AMA, and the Bank of Ghana in bringing the project to fruition and urged the management of the school to adopt a rigorous maintenance culture to ensure the longevity of the facilities.
Dr Addison also reminded the teachers of their crucial role in nurturing young minds and encouraged students to use the school as a place to explore, innovate, and reach new heights. –GNA
The Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, says Parliament and government officials are working closely with authorities in the Netherlands following the detention of the Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, Kwame Ohene Frimpong.
Speaking on the matter on Channel One news yesterday, Mr. Dafeamekpor disclosed that the MP was detained at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam on Sunday while travelling on a private trip.
According to him, Mr. Frimpong personally informed him about the incident around 5 a.m. on the day of the arrest.
He said the issue was immediately escalated to parliamentary leadership and other state officials for intervention.
Mr. Dafeamekpor explained that the Majority Leader, who was in transit at Heathrow Airport in London at the time, travelled to Schiphol to engage the detained MP and better understand the situation.
He added that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ghana’s Ambassador to The Hague, the Attorney General, the Speaker of Parliament and the Clerk to Parliament had all been involved in efforts to address the matter.
According to him, a Ghanaian lawyer based in The Hague and qualified to practise there has also been engaged to represent the MP.
“The lawyer is dealing with the issues, but let me confirm that he is fine,” Mr. Dafeamekpor stated.
He noted that Parliament and the legal team were still waiting for official documents, including an authenticated copy of the arrest warrant and other details from Dutch prosecutors handling the matter.
The South Dayi MP therefore urged the media and the public to avoid speculation until all facts surrounding the case are confirmed.
“We want to urge all the media houses not to be throwing in things that have not been confirmed,” he said.
Mr. Dafeamekpor further explained that Parliament’s involvement was partly because the MP was travelling with a diplomatic passport.
He noted that extradition and detention cases involving political figures are not uncommon internationally, citing examples such as former Chilean leader Augusto Pinochet and Julian Assange.
According to him, authorities are hopeful the matter can be resolved for the MP to return to Ghana safely.
He appealed to the MP’s family, colleagues in Parliament and the public to remain calm while diplomatic and legal processes continue.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana Water Ltd has announced temporary water supply interruptions in several parts of western Accra following technical challenges at the Weija Water Treatment Plant.
In a press release issued on May 13, the company explained that the challenges had affected water production and distribution in some communities.
According to the management of the company, residents in areas including Dansoman, Mamprobi, Mataheko, Laterbiokorshie, Korle Bu, La Paz, MacCarthy Hill, Gbawe, Mallam, Tesano, Darkuman, North Kaneshie, Dome, Achimota, Anyaa and Ablekuma may experience low water pressure and erratic water supply.
Management noted that engineers and technical teams were working to fix the problem and restore normal water supply as soon as possible.
The company advised consumers to store water whenever there is flow in their communities in order to manage the temporary disruption.
It urged essential service providers to contact their Assembly Members or the Ghana Water Ltd Call Centre for assistance.
The company apologized to customers affected by the situation and appealed for calm and cooperation while efforts continue to resolve the challenge.
By: Jacob Aggrey
