Accra’s mayor, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has welcomed pupils back to school and inspired them for the upcoming academic year by distributing 3,000 back-to-school packets to basic school students throughout the city.
Upper and lower primary students’ practice books, pencils, and erasers were included in the packs, along with some snacks and soft drinks.
Mayor Allotey spoke to the students during the distribution exercise and encouraged them to focus on their studies in order to become excellent leaders in the future, pray, and obey their parents and teachers.
Along with praying with the kids, he urged them to have faith in themselves by telling them that “You can become presidents, mayors, professors, and leaders. I was once like you, but through education and perseverance, I am here today.”
The mayor of the Rev. Thomas Clegg Basic School, who is positioned between the Metro Coordinating Director and the Metro Education Director, promised to use his own money to paint the kindergarten and class 1 classrooms and lay cement on the floors. He also provided money for some of the students who demonstrated exceptional qualities to buy shoes.
In appreciation of the teachers’ efforts to keep the classroom tidy and decorated with interactive and themed displays, such as alphabet charts, number lines, and vibrant murals, to spark students’ imaginations and create a positive and engaging learning environment despite the numerous challenges the school faces, Mayor Allotey also gave an undisclosed sum of money to the KG class teachers at Kaneshie Kingsway 1 Basic School.
While thanking God that students returned to school safely, the mayor expressed concern to the media about the condition of several of the classrooms he had observed earlier in the day.
“Not every child is sharp, but with patience and dedication, they will learn,” the mayor said, urging headteachers, educators, and other professionals to treat every child with kindness and compassion.
Using the occasion, he urged Corporate Ghana to collaborate with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to address school infrastructure issues, emphasizing that his request was a sincere one rather than a command.
“Some people may say, ‘The Mayor is begging for support.’ Yes, I am pleading because the only way to get people to help is to ask them sincerely,” he stated.
“For my part, I am ready to support any company with whatever assistance they may need to grow stronger and reach greater heights. In the same way, I expect them to also join Accra Metro to address the challenges we are facing in our schools,” he added.
He also emphasized that more work needed to be done collaboratively, while applauding the efforts of Hon. Ernest Adomako, a member of parliament, who painted several of the schools.
“We must all come together to make a difference,” he stated.
Assembly members, the Metro Education Director, Mrs. Justine Ivy Apawu, the Okaikoi South Sub-Metropolitan District Director, Mrs. Mercy Odoi, the Metro Coordinating Director, Mr. Douglas N.K. Annoful, and other directors from the AMA Head Office joined the mayor.
Source: newsthemegh.com