Drug addiction poses problems

“Students engage in drug peddling and consumption sometimes under the influence of other students, some family members or friends,” she said.

Mrs Nimako-Boateng, who was speaking at the 70th Anniversary Speech and Prize Giving Day of the Ghana Senior High School (GHANASS) in Koforidua, said that habit had the powerful effect of destroying the lives of those dependent on it. She said some students who had fallen to drugs ended up in psychiatric hospitals.

“Some students are able to complete their studies, find jobs but  are unable to shake off their dependence on drugs and fall deeper into the abyss of drug addiction that eventually destroys their brilliant career”,she said.

Mrs Nimako-Boateng urged those students who were dependent on narcotics to seek professional assistance before it was too late. She told the students to focus on their studies to be successful in life.

The Very Reverend Abraham Osei Donkor, the Headmaster of the school, appealed to the old students  Association to form a cluster of year groups to pool resources and expertise to address some of the numerous challenges facing the institution.

He appealed to the government to improve the infrastructure of senior high schools by providing them with more facilities to enable them to double the intake of form one students.

Reverend Donkor said the school had taken on board 800 fresh students, 350 boys and 450 girls. He appealed to the government to provide the school with at least one two-storey dormitory block for the boys, as well as an ultra-modern multi-purpose assembly hall to seat 2,500 students. He said out of 1,140 students the school presented for the 2013 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), 1,061 passed in eight subjects, 70 in seven subjects and seven in six subjects. 

Reverend Donkor said the school performed creditably in the zonal games held in Koforidua where the boys came first in hockey, third in table tennis; the girls were wonderful -second each in hockey, volleyball, handball and basketball. —GNA