Accra, July 21, GNA – Barclays Bank Limited on Wednesday presented children’s books and other learning materials valued at 15.5 million cedis to the Children’s Library in Accra. Nana Wereko Ampem II, Board Chairman, said the presentation is in fulfilment to a pledge the bank made to adopt the library for five years.
He said the bank sees education as the backbone of any vibrant economy and “any country that neglects it does so at the peril of its sustained and balanced economic development”.
It has, therefore, set aside 400 million cedis for this year to support education and health in the country, he added. Nana Ampem promised that the bank will, in addition to the donation, supply the computer room of the library with air conditioners to ensure the safety of the computers donated last year by the bank.
The books and materials, which include encyclopaedia, dictionaries, posters, toy microscopes, literature and other reference books, are to help widen the reading scope of children.
Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, a Deputy Minister of Education, thanked the bank for their support and said there is the need to seriously develop the country’s human resource through early childhood education in order to achieve development in the next century.
He said it is important to inculcate reading habits into children because it helps in the development of the individual towards future economic and social and cultural responsibilities.
Dr Chambas used the occasion to comment on a press conference by the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) on proposed increases in registration fees for fresh students of the University of Ghana.
He said he was disappointed at the statement by NUGS asking banks not to issue bank drafts for freshmen of the University. Dr Chambas said such statements are very unhealthy, especially at the time when the Ministry of education is soliciting funds from these banks to support tertiary education.
He appealed to all stakeholders to exercise patience and help the ministry find a better solution to the current problem of funding university education.
Mrs Rose Bofah, Acting Director, Ghana Library Board (GLB), expressed the hope that the relations between them and Barclays Bank will not cease by the end of the adoption period and called on other business communities to help the board.
