Drunkenness, Gambling, A Societal Canker?
Rev. Frank Dei, who made the disclosure said the consumption of alcohol and drugs was threatening not only the health and education of the youth, but also their productivity. The Rev, Minister's observations are borne out on a regular basis by reports of students and young people engaging in binge drinking. Just last week, eighteen final-year pupils of Adankwame Basic School who were allegedly found drunk and engaged in gambling on the school premises were suspended by the school authorities. They included six girls, who also reportedly stole large quantity of bread from a nearby grocery in the company of 12 boys who also engaged in gambling. Mr. John Yidanbla Tayari, Headteacher of the school told a meeting arranged by the Atwima-Nwabiagya District Education directorate aimed at finding solutions to the reported acts of indiscipline at Adankwame. The meeting was attended by the local School Management Committee (SMC), Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), unit committee members, chiefs, teachers and other opinion leaders. Although the culprits' parents had been invited to the meeting, they did not show up. Mr. Richard Owusu-Agyemang, the District's Community Participation Co-ordinator, condemned the acts of the pupils and the refusal of their parents to attend the meeting. He said it was the responsibility of parents to inculcate moral values and discipline in their children and that the boycott of the meeting by the parents was not only a mark of disrespect to the school authorities but also an endorsement of the pupils' indiscipline acts. He warned that the directorate will not tolerate indiscipline in the School and urged the chiefs, SMCs and PTAs to help in addressing the situation.

<< Home