The Mayor of Accra, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey has distributed 3,000 back-to-school packs to pupils in basic schools across the metropolis to welcome them back to school and motivate them for the new academic year.

The packs contained exercise books, pencils, and erasers for upper primary and lower primary pupils as well as some soft drinks and biscuits. 

In an interaction with the pupils during the distribution exercise, Mayor Allotey urged the children to pray, obey their parents and teachers, and focus on their education to be great leaders in the future. 

He also prayed with the children and encouraged them to believe in themselves, saying, “You can become presidents, mayors, professors, and leaders. I was once like you, but through education and perseverance, I am here today.”

At the Rev. Thomas Clegg Basic School, the Mayor, sandwiched between the Metro Coordinating Director and the Metro Education Director provided funds for the purchase of shoes for some of the pupils who exhibited exceptional qualities and promised to lay cement on the floors as well as paint the kindergarten and class 1 classrooms with his own funds.

Mayor Allotey also donated an undisclosed amount of money to the teachers of the KG class of the  Kaneshie Kingsway 1 Basic School  in recognition of their efforts to keep the classroom neat and decorated with interactive and thematic displays, including alphabet charts, number lines, and colourful murals, to stimulate pupils’ imagination and create a positive and engaging learning environment despite the many challenges facing the school.

Speaking to the media, the Mayor expressed gratitude to God for the safe return of pupils to school but raised concern over the poor state of some classrooms he had inspected earlier in the day.

The Mayor urged headteachers, teachers and education workers to treat every child with patience and care, adding that “Not every child is sharp, but with patience and dedication, they will learn.”

He used the opportunity to call on Corporate Ghana to partner with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to address infrastructural challenges in schools, stressing that his appeal was not a directive but a heartfelt plea.

 “Some people may say, ‘The Mayor is begging for support.’ Yes, I am pleading because the only way to get people to help is to ask them sincerely,” he stated.

 “For my part, I am ready to support any company with whatever assistance they may need to grow stronger and reach greater heights. In the same way, I expect them to also join Accra Metro to address the challenges we are facing in our schools,” he added.

He also praised the efforts of Member of Parliament Hon. Ernest Adomako for painting some of the schools, stressing that more needed to be done collectively.

“We must all come together to make a difference,” he said.

The Mayor was accompanied by the Metro Coordinating Director, Mr. Douglas N.K Annoful, the Metro Education Director, Mrs. Justine Ivy Apawu, Okaikoi South Sub-Metropolitan District Director, Mrs. Mercy Odoi, Assembly Members; and other Directors from the AMA Head Office.