General News of Saturday, 8 July 2017
Source: Graphic.com.gh
2017-07-08
Dr Ato Arthur (left) receiving a citation from Joe Dasaanah, Chief Director at Local Gov’t Service
The Head of the Local Government Service, Dr Stephen Nana Ato Arthur, has launched an education endowment fund to support needy, brilliant tertiary students in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) municipality in the Central Region.
Speaking at the launch of the fund at a thanksgiving service at Berease in the municipality, Dr Arthur said as the government rolled out the free senior high school (SHS) policy in September this year, SHS students who would qualify for further studies at the universities and other tertiary institutions might need support to pursue their academic programmes.
He said he would need the support of the people to assist the underprivileged in the area and asked all to contribute towards the fund.
Advice
He advised parents to make the necessary sacrifices to educate their children, since education was the best legacy they could bequeath to their children.
He said nations had developed and made progress through education and urged Ghanaians to emulate those nations that relied on education for their progress and socio-economic development.
Experience
Dr Arthur heads the Local Government Service with a wealth of experience, having served as a District Chief Executive for the KEEA in the Kufuor administration in 2001.
He also served as a Deputy Minister for the Central Region in the same regime, before being appointed the substantive Central Regional Minister.
He contested the KEEA parliamentary seat in 2012 on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party and won to represent the constituency, before losing the seat in the 2016 election.
Preaching the sermon at the thanksgiving service, the Archbishop of the Cape Coast Catholic Archdiocese, Archbishop Matthias Nketiah, advised Ghanaians to live in peace and cooperate with one another for harmony to prevail.
He said of late Ghanaians had lost their sense of belongingness and allowed lawlessness in society, which did not augur well for social cohesion.
Avoid corruption
Archbishop Nketiah added his voice to the calls on Ghanaians to avoid corruption and anti-social behaviours for the betterment of all.
The Director of the Local Government Service, Dr Charles Kesse, commended Dr Arthur for his commitment, dedication and devotion towards the decentralisation process and expressed the hope that he would assist the service to achieve its vision and mission.
