President John Evans Atta Mills will today launch the programme to start the distribution of the first consignment of 1.6 million school uniforms for children in 77 deprived districts in the country. The uniforms, which cost GH¢21 million, will be distributed in fulfilment of the government's campaign promise to provide free school uniforms for pupils in deprived communities. The Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, told the Daily Graphic in Accra that all the 10 regions would benefit from the first phase of the distribution. According to the distribution list, Brong Ahafo Region is to receive 160,000 uniforms; Ashanti, 133,000; Central, 94,000; Eastern, 100,000; Greater Accra, 800,000, and Northern, 300,000. The rest are Upper East, 200,000; Upper West, 90,000, Volta Region, 130,000, and Western, 195,000. In the run-up to the 2008 elections, then, candidate Mills pledged to provide free school uniforms for pupils in deprived areas. In fulfilment of that pledge and in order to promote local businesses, the government gave part of the contract for the provision of the materials for Ghanaian textile companies. The four industrial companies which won by selective tendering approved by the procurement board were Montibel, Revix, Quashie Tailors and Afiric companies. Mr Tettey-Enyo said seamstresses and tailors in the regions and the districts would also be given the contract to assist in the production of the uniforms. He said the materials being used were of good quality and were approved by parents and schoolteachers. The minister attributed the slow production of the materials by the local industries. to their limited capacities. Source: Daily Graphic