Minister stresses importance of education in the North

Bunkpurugu (N/R), May 1, GNA- Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, at the weekend told the people of the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions that their lifeline and only way out of poverty lies in education.

They should, therefore, take advantage of the government's Capitation Grant and School Feeding Programme and send their children to school. Hajia Alima made the observation when she led a Government delegation to the final funeral rites of the late Bunkpurugu Naba Lambon Tapang Libarbor, Paramount Chief of the Bimoba Traditional Area, at Bunkpurugu near Nalerigu in the Northern Region.

She said the late Naba Libarbor became a household name not only in his traditional area, but also throughout the entire North, because he believed in education and encouraged his people to send all children in the area to school.

"His effort to bring development to his community was untiring," she noted

The Minister outlined the benefits inherent in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and urged the people of the Bimoba Traditional Area to register with the Scheme without delay.

Hajia Alima on behalf of Government presented 6 million Cedis, a bull, five bags of rice and 10 crates of soft drinks to the bereaved family She also conveyed the condolences of President John Agyekum Kufuor to the family. Friends and family members read tributes for the late chief, with that of the widow, Mrs. Faith Yaro Tapang, read on her behalf by one of her daughters, Ms Hannah Zemp-Tapang.

The Reverend Father Robert Laar, Parish Priest of Zebilla, preached the sermon during a Catholic Church service held earlier in memory of the deceased. The late Naba Lawrence Lambon Tapang Libarbor, who was also District Commissioner for the Bimoba Area in the First Republic, died on March 21, 2005 at the age of 87. He left behind a wife, 12 children and 26 grandchildren.