The District Chief Executive (DCE) of the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region, James Baidoo, has expressed worry about the high rates of teenage pregnancy in the area.
According to him, it was pathetic to note that scholarship schemes instituted by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and HESS Energy for some female students in the area had to be withdrawn when it was later revealed that those beneficiaries were pregnant.
To this end, he indicated that henceforth, pregnancy tests would be conducted on female students before they are awarded the scholarships.
The DCE stated this when he was addressing the chiefs and people of Lower Axim Traditional Area during the celebration of the area�s annual Kundum festival.
This year�s Kundum festival of the people of Lower Axim was sponsored by Vodafone Ghana.
The festival was used to thank the gods for bumper harvest of food stuffs and large catch of fish.
It was also used to mourn the ancestors and settle individual differences.
Mr Baidoo was, however, excited that most Nzema students in the municipality excelled in the last West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE), especially in the sciences.
He was very hopeful that in the near future, those students would gain employment in the oil and gas sector, particularly, the Ghana Gas Company at Atuabo in the region.
The DCE assured that the people who are working on the Ayisakro-Axim road would commence the project early next year.
He also pointed out the construction of the area�s sea defence wall would soon begin since funding for the project is available.
He appealed to the people to keep their surrounding clean to help prevent the outbreak of cholera, adding, �Ebola too has become scary so let us adhere to all the preventive measures�.
Dr Sipa Yankey, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Gas Company, admonished the chiefs in the region to stop what he termed as �unnecessary and unproductive litigations� since the region needs peace to develop.
He regretted that despite the fact that the region was abound in many natural resources, the level of development did not commensurate its endowed natural resources.
He urged the chiefs to encourage the children in their areas to study hard and read oil and gas-related courses to acquire the requisite skills to gain employment in the oil and gas sector.
He stressed that government is poised to exploit the region�s abundance resources to the benefit of the people.
Awulae Attibrukusu III, Omanhene of Lower Axim Traditional Area, was hopeful that the government would soon fulfill its promise of furnishing the edifice earmarked for nursing mothers at the Axim Hospital.
He also cautioned his subjects to be vigilant and report any suspected Ebola cases to the hospital since the disease is real.
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