Ahwoi Slams Opinion Leaders

The Minister of Food and Agriculture has bemoaned the seemingly silence of opinion leaders, religious leaders, traditional rulers on the politics of insults in the country.

Hon. Kwesi Ahwoi revealed that opinion leaders, who wield influence in the society, had been silent on the growing incidence of insults in the country’s political arena, stressing that the development was disturbing and unfortunate.

He opined that members of the society look up to opinion leaders for direction and guidance, explaining that their crusade against the trend which is creating tension in the country ahead of the 2012 polls, could go a long way to tackle the menace.

The 29th food and agric minister said religious leaders, traditional rulers and other opinion leaders in the country were reluctant to condemn politics of insults for fear of being tagged by the media.

“This is because should any opinion leader condemn an insult coming from say the National Democratic Congress (NDC) member or New Patriotic Party (NPP) member, the media will then present that person as either NDC or NPP sympathizer,” Mr. Ahwoi noted.

He noted that the opinion leaders still have a duty in shaping the society by waging relentless war against politics of insults to ensure peaceful co-existence in a country with a common destiny.

Hon Ahwoi chided people who hurled insults at the President and called for consented effort by all and sundry in curtailing the development.

Mr. Ahwoi, who was the guest speaker at the 63rd Anniversary Speech and Prize Giving Day of the Prempeh College in Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital on Saturday, said children who are the future leaders of the nation, are gradually emulating the unhealthy behavior.

The food and agriculture minister tasked students to be disciplined and refrain from the use of vulgar language.

Welcoming the gathering, the headmaster of the school, Emmanuel K. Yeboah, highlighted the academic achievement of the school for the 2011 WASSCE results for the first batch of the four-year group.

He disclosed that out of the 572 candidates, two absented themselves and results of two candidates were cancelled due to exam malpractices, stressing that the school scored 100 percent in 20 of the 24 courses.

Touching on challenges facing the school, the headmaster noted that the construction of a new assembly hall complex and 18-unit classroom block, which started in 2007, has come to a halt.

Mr. Yeboah therefore appealed to the authorities to come to the aid of the school by commencing the construction of the two facilities, explaining that the facilities, when completed, would improve academic activities in the school.

The Akyempemhene Oheneba Aduse Poku, an old student of the school, who represented the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on his part, stressed the need for the students to be disciplined and study hard.

The project is an initiative of the Manhyia palace, the official seat of the Asantehene.

Oheneba Aduse Poku promised to liaise with appropriate authorities to ensure the provision of facilities that the school requires for effective academic work.

Due to the fact that the anniversary coincided with the 5th founding fathers’ and pioneer students’ day which was under the theme “Stakeholders as partners in maintaining discipline for academic excellence,” one of the pioneers was made to speak on behalf of his colleagues.

In his speech, Dr Kwaku Kankam lauded the headmaster and the staff of the school for maintaining high academic standards which he said was the hallmark of the school and entreated the students to make effective use of their time in the school.

The occasion, which was chaired by Rev Dr Opuni-Frimpong, the board chairman of the school, was attended by present students, old students, parents and guardians and representatives from other schools in the region.

Source: Morgan Owusu, Kumasi/D-Guide