Government provides adequate educational infrastructure for Brong-Ahafo

By Regina Benneh, GNA
Sunyani, Aug. 26 GNA - The Brong-Ahafo Region has benefited tremendously in the provision of adequate educational infrastructure and facilities under the almost eight-year rule of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Mr Eric Opoku, the Regional Minister said this when he addressed heads of department, traditional rulers, religious leaders, political parties' supporters, Municipal and District Chief Executives and the public at the 2016 government for the people (G4P) forum in Sunyani.

The forum, on the theme: 'Changing Lives, Transforming Ghana,' aimed among other things at 'creating a platform for the Regional Coordinating Council, Ministries, Departments and Agencies and the Municipal and District Assemblies to engage the people, outline government initiatives and offer the citizenry an opportunity to interact with Ministers of State for answers to issues of primary concern to them'.

He emphasised that laudable educational measures like the provision of leaching and learning materials and other logistics had resulted to the remarkable improvement in the education sector in the region.

Mr Opoku cited among others that to encourage the boarding school system the region alone had been supplied with more than 40,000 student metal double beds and 80,000 mattresses to the senior high schools to enhance sleeping conditions of students for better academic performance.

Touching on health, Mr. Opoku said government had done a lot to increase access to health services by the people because on assumption of power in 2009, the region had only 226 health facilities but had now been increased to 726.

There were less than 10 health training institutions but these facilities have been increased to 11.

He said it included nine polyclinics and 450 Community-based Health Planning Services Compounds in addition to a distribution of 45 pick-up vehicles and 1000 bicycles to the institutions and staff of the sector.

He announced pupils in schools under the school feeding programme are being registered freely by the National Health Insurance Authority to guarantee provision ready access and affordable health services for them.

Mr Opoku said besides helping to prevent absenteeism through sicknesses, the rate of truancy would also be reduced to attain quality standard of education in the region.

GNA