Hon Stephen Yakubu, the Upper East Regional Minister, says education is the surest way to break the poverty cycle in the Region, and admonished parents and guardians to pay critical attention to the education of their children.
Poverty, coupled with diseases and illiteracy, the former Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, noted were the major enemies of the people in the Region.
He stressed the need for parents to pay keen interest in the education needs and development of their children to enable them become responsible citizens, and change the poverty and illiteracy gap between the North and the South.
“I urge you to ensure that children of school going age are not only in school but are retained, especially the Girl-Child,” the Minister told Muslims at this year’s Eid Ada prayers in Bolgatanga.
Hon. Yakubu reiterated that for the development gap between the North and South to be bridged, education must be pivotal, noting that the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) government under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo prioritized and recognised education in the development agenda of the country.
The Minister used the occasion to appeal to Assembly Members and opinion leaders in the Region to take sanitation issues seriously in their respective communities to improve on the health conditions of their people.
He cited Open Defecation as one of the major challenges across Municipalities and Districts in the Region, “Let us stop Open Defecation. The practice exposes citizens to a number of health hazards including malaria, typhoid among other diseases,” he advised.
The Regional Minister was accompanied to the prayer ground by the Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Rex Asanga and some members the Regional Security Council (REGSEC).