A community library built in memory of the late J.A. Boateng, District Commissioner (DC) for Atwima in the First Republic has been commissioned at Manhyia near Abuakwa in the Atwima-Nwabeagya district. The library which is located at Manhyia JSS was refurbished and stocked with 1,500 books and three computers by the sons and daughters of the DC at a cost of 34,000 dollars. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Dr. J.A. Boateng, a medical doctor and one of the sons based in the United States, said the family has instituted a scholarship scheme for brilliant and needy students in the community. He said they have also set aside 15 dollars for any pupil who uses the library and read not less than three to four books in a month. Mr Thomas Ofori-Donkor, District Chief Executive for Atwima-Nwabiagya praised the family for the initiative and said there is no doubt that education is the key to the development of individuals and a nation. He said it was against this background that the government had embarked on a new educational reform, in addition to the provision of meaningful facilities including the capitation grant, school feeding and provision of classrooms, which would enable parents to enroll their children in school. He said the government was doing a lot to promote education in the country and that there was the need for all and sundry to offer the needed support to enable it to succeed. Concerning distant learning, the DCE said the district received 25 television sets from the government for the first phase of the programme and they have been distributed to beneficiary communities and stressed that the community would benefit under the second phase. Mr Benito Owusu Bio, Member of Parliament for the constituency urged parents to encourage their children to take advantage of the facility to improve on their educational standards. He pledged 100 bags of cement to support the construction of the on-going classroom block in the school. Mrs Diana Appiah, District Director of Education for Atwima-Nwabiagya and Mponua said the inclusion of the computers would go a long way to support the Information Communication Technology programme of the government under the new educational reforms. Nana Opoku Agyeman III, Kumasi Bantama Gyaasehene and chief of Asenemaso near Abuakwa, commended all those who helped to establish the library especially an American volunteer by name Martin Poku. Source: GNA