Govt will devote more resources to science, maths

Page 55, October 23/2008

Story: Charles Benoni Okine

THE Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has affirmed government’s commitment to continue to devote more resources to the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in the country.
That, he said, formed part of the government’s efforts to prepare Ghanaians for the nation’s industrialisation drive.
Alhaji Mahama said this when the Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA) in Accra introduced nine new members of the Japanese Overseas Co-operation Volunteers (JOCV) to him at the Castle on Tuesday.
The new volunteers, who were presented by the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Keiichi Katakami, are expected to be posted to various parts of the country to work in different fields.
Alhaji Mahama commended the Japanese government for the release of the volunteers to support in the building of the manpower needs of the country.
He also expressed gratitude to the volunteers for accepting to take up appointments in areas that many might not want to go.
The Vice-President urged the volunteers to learn Ghanaian culture to enable them to adjust to their new environment
and assured them that Ghanaians were a hospitable people who would make their stay in the country comfortable.
He also urged them not to hesitate to ask for assistance from the communities in which they would be posted.
Mr Katakami, for his part, said more than 1,000 Japanese volunteers had served in the country.
He expressed the hope that the relationship between the two countries would be further strengthened.
In another development, the family of the late Major Benjamin Akwaitey (retd), one-time camp commander in the Ghana Army, called on the Vice-President to inform him about the death of the major.
The delegation was led by Nene Djagbletey, a divisional chief of Dodowa, who said the family had fixed November 10, this year for the funeral of Major Akwaitey.
Alhaji Mahama described the late major as a warrior who served the country selflessly and expressed the hope that those in the Army would emulate his exemplary leadership and dedication to duty.