Find causes for decline in education in Ashanti -Asantehene

Kumasi (Ashanti region) 20 May '99

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on Wednesday tasked the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission to furnish him with the factors contributing to the falling standards of education in Ashanti region.

He said they should include recommendations to remedy the situation.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu made the request during a courtesy call on him by Maulvi Wahab Adam, Ameer and Missionary in-charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Ghana and the Board of Governors of the T.I. Ahmadiyya Secondary School (AMASS) at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

He also called for ideas from educationists in Ashanti on how to rekindle interest in education and the way to sustain it.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu decried the rush for quick wealth by the youth at the expense of education and said he has started a series of consultations and discussions with chiefs on how to tackle the problem.

The Asantehene announced the institution of a scholarship scheme from September, for brilliant but needy students.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu commended the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission for spearheading secular education for all Ghanaians and hoped they would continue with their good work.

Maulvi Wahab Adam noted that the Mission had had successful relationships with successive Asante Kings.

The Mission has always championed the cause of peace and accepted secular education as a means of raising the awareness of the people.

Maulvi Adam said, having established schools and hospitals, the Mission is now branching into agriculture to encourage the people to grow more food.

He later presented a copy of the Holy Quran to the Asantehene.

In another development, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, instituted a 10 million-cedi scholarship scheme for indigent students at Osei Kyeretwie Secondary School (OKESS) in Kumasi.

He asked that an account should be opened and the interest that would accrue used for the scheme, which starts from this year.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu said this when a delegation from the school paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace.

The delegation, led by the Headmaster of the school, Mr Fredrick Acheampong, included members of the Board of Governors, the Old Students' and Parent Teacher associations (PTA), staff and some students.

He said he was happy to see old faces from his alma mater, stressing that he is really determined to assist in the development of education and other areas human of endeavour, to bring about general accelerated growth in the country.

The Asantehene said he has the school at heart and urged the old students and all stakeholders to help build it.

He advised the students to be obedient and to respect their teachers and take their studies very seriously so that they would become useful citizens.