News
First Lady inaugurates revamped 118-year-old Independence Avenue Cluster of Schools
proofread
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 family of Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, a distinguished statesman and diplomat, has paid a courtesy call on President John Dramani Mahama. They officially informed him of his passing.
The delegation, representing the Gbeho family, noted that it was culturally and diplomatically important to formally notify the President of the loss before making a public announcement of his death.
Ambassador Gbeho was a towering figure in Ghanaian and international politics. He served in many diplomatic missions, including New York. He was Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, a Member of Parliament for the Anlo constituency, and President (formerly Executive Secretary) of the ECOWAS Commission.
He was widely respected for his role in regional integration and his contributions to global diplomacy at the United Nations.
President Mahama expressed his condolences and shared reflections on Ambassador Gbeho’s contributions to the country, West Africa and the world.
Funeral details will be announced later.
The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has revoked all firearm permits in Ghana with immediate effect and announced a new registration process for all gun owners.
The minister made the announcement on Tuesday, June 23, at the information service department saying all individuals who currently hold licences to own firearms or sidearms must undergo a fresh registration process.
“From this afternoon, all permits that have been granted to any individual that you are holding a sidearm or firearm is hereby revoked,” Mr Muntaka said.
He explained that the government had identified gaps in the country’s firearm registration system and needed to introduce stricter measures to improve public safety.
“We are opening the window where everyone will have to come forward again to register or re-register the gun because we’ve changed the procedure,” he stated.
According to him, the government decided not to wait until the end of the year to make the changes because lives could still be saved within the next six months.
The Interior Minister said one of the new requirements would be mandatory mental health screening for applicants seeking firearm licences.
“We’ve seen that people with mental health have already gone through and have the sidearm. Now we are introducing mental health. Before we give you the sidearm, we have to be sure that you have the mental stability to hold the firearms,” he said.
Mr Muntaka also announced that applicants would be required to undergo drug tests before being granted licences.
“We’ve also realised that people who are on drugs are also holding their arms and they are legitimate because it’s been registered. Now you have to go through drug tests to be sure that you are not on drugs before you can hold sidearms,” he added.
The minister said the new measures form part of efforts by the government to tighten firearm control and prevent legally registered weapons from falling into the wrong hands.
He urged all firearm owners to cooperate with the new registration process once details of the exercise are announced.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News1 week agoNFS, AACMA raise GH¢300K for new fire tender
- News4 days ago
FSD Africa, others launch Green Project Preparation Facility to unlock investment in climate infrastructure in Ghana
- News1 week ago
CSA urges Universities to strengthen cybersecurity following university of Nottingham cyber-attack
