Minister warns against unauthorised increase in fees

Have, Nov. 9, GNA - Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Education Youth and Sports has again warned school authorities that they would be punished if they raised school fees without permission from the Ghana Education Service (GES).

The Minister, who said the recent spate of increases was unacceptable, stressed that the only organisation recognised to increase school fees was the GES.

He was speaking at the annual Agadevi Festival of the Chiefs and People of the Have Traditional Area in the Hohoe District on Saturday under the theme, "The Development of Have: Our Shared Responsibility".

Mr Baah-Wiredu also said that no school should compel students or pupils to buy uniforms either from the school or from designated shops. He warned private schools to abide by the rules of the GES, adding that any school, which went contrary to GES guidelines and regulations, could be closed down.

Captain Nkrabea Effah-Dartey, Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development urged the Chiefs and people of the area to shun disgruntled politicians, who were going round peddling false rumours about the National Health Insurance Scheme, (NHIS).

He said the scheme was a better alternative to the "deadly" Cash and Carry system.

In a welcoming address, Togbega Asemtsyra IX, Paramount Chief of the traditional area said the festival was initiated as thanksgiving to God for saving the area from a major landslide, which occurred on June 15, 1933.

He said 1.2 billion cedis had been targeted to put up a library and renovate two basic schools in the area.

A total of 70 million cedis, which was realised in an appeal for funds, would be used to start the project.