The Municipal chief Executive for Wenchi, Alhaji Hakibu Dauda has paid glowing homage to founding stars of Ghana.

He said while recognising and paying tributes to our founding fathers including Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Dr J.B Danquah and all other unacknowledged heroes and heroines in the struggle for emancipation, it was incumbent on all to realize that these great sons and daughters were greatly influenced by their passion for patriotism, discipline, hard work and commitment to duty which culminated into the attainment of independence on 6th March 1957, he added.

He stressed that it was binding on all and sundry to move the nation to a greater height in line with the vision of the founders.

He said this during the independence anniversary parade to mark Ghana at 57 here in Wenchi.

The MCE further noted that in building a better and prosperous Ghana, there was the need for all to take cognizance first on what identifies us as Ghanaians, who share a common destiny and wake up to the reality that we cannot build a better and prosperous nation if we don’t rededicate ourselves to patriotism, sacrifice, discipline and hard work.

He added that the efforts and gains in our nation building drive would come to naught if we did not unite and promote peaceful co-existence in our politic.

He emphasised the need for groups in the political, traditional, religious and ethnic divides to solicit opinions on promotion of unity and meaningful development in the municipality and therefore called on all to put their shoulders to the wheel in this regard to develop the municipality.

On infrastructure, he mentioned that through various funding sources, the Assembly last year raised the infrastructure stock level in the education sector by constructing 5 no 3- unit classroom blocks with ancillary facilities at Mallamkrom, Ahwene, Amoakrom, Nyampomase, and Bepotrim, 2 no 6-unit classroom blocks and ancillary facilities at Buoku and Amponsahkrom and 1no teacher’s quarters at Asuofri.

Alhaji Dauda disclosed that the Assembly has set over GH¢ 461,000 from its share of the UDG budgetary allocation for the construction of 2 no- CHPS compounds at Buoku and Botensu, 2 no 3-unit classroom blocks with ancillary facilities at Nchiraa and Tromesu and supply of dual desks and teacher’s tables and chairs in the 2 schools. He charged on beneficiary communities and school authorities to ensure that facilities were used and maintained for the purposes for which they were constructed.

He outlined his intension to re-introduce the annual teachers award  scheme to honor and motivate hard working teachers so as to enable them continue to put in their best to improve the standard of education in Wenchi municipality.

He appealed to nananom (chiefs) to resolve their differences in the chieftaincy dispute and support the Assembly in pursuit of development.

The Independence Parade was marked with a colorful cadet display from Aswaq ‘c’ school, Our Lady of Fatima Vocational School and Wenchi Senior High School Cadet corps. In all 1,679 students drawn from Primary, Junior and Senior High Schools in the East and Central circuits of GES in Wenchi took part in the march past. The schools that excelled in the match pass were presented with awards and certificates of honor.

Wenchi Methodist Senior High School came first in the Senior High Schools division whilst Wenchi L/A 2c came first in the Junior High Schools and SDA school also came first in the primary respectively. The ceremony was well attended by the chiefs and people of Wenchi.

Two students who performed excellently in last year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) were also presented with awards. The best male candidate was Joseph Arthur and the best female candidate was Gifty Pokuaa Boakye.

E. D. K. Tottimeh Jnr/ISD