Tema — The Minister for Health, Major Courage Quashigah (Rtd), has expressed grave concern over the rate at which crimes such as armed robbery, drug abuse, homosexuality and occultism, are being perpetuated by students in our schools.

According to him, not only are such crimes a threat to children in our schools, but also to national security, saying what was happening in our schools now, could only be likened to the biblical Sodom and Gomorrah.

Major Quarshigah (Rtd) made the statement, at the launch of the 10th Anniversary celebration, and unveiling of ceremonial cloth, for the Our Lady of Mercy (OLAM) Senior High School (SHS), at Tema last Friday.

The Health Minister also lamented over the rate at which most parents of today, abandon their children in the name of civilization and modernization.

He stated that most parents don't give much time, and the needed attention to their children, especially when they are growing up, but instead allow the children to be educated by computers they have bought for them, saying, children working on the computer was not necessarily a show of intelligence.

He advised both parents and students, to abstain from corruption, explaining that corruption was not only among politicians, but also parents who failed to oblige their responsibility, and students who refuse to do their assignments.

The Health Minister advised the students to always speak the truth, especially when they were outside the church, so as to depict their true Christian morale, and most importantly as students from a mission school.

Using himself as an example, the Minister noted that he was known throughout his schooling days as Emmanuel, but due to his firm and boldness in speaking the truth, any time any where, his classmates decided to call him Courage.

He also advised teachers and management of the school, to put in place practical structures, which would help mould the students to become good and responsible citizens in the future.

The Headmistress of the school, Mrs. Roberta Mary Appau, revealed that the school was established under the auspices of Our Lady of Mercy (OLAM) Catholic Church in Tema. According to her, since the establishment of the school, the mantle of developing the school had been kept on course, by the hardworking Parish Priest, Right Rev. Father Gabriel Liashiedzi, who is currently the local manager of the school.

Mrs. Mary Appau stated that the ceremonial cloth was to give the school a befitting public identity, in a unique way that reflected its character and dignity.

She continued that the beautiful clothes were meant for continuing students, old students, benefactors, parents and friends of the school during the school's ceremonial activities.

The Headmistress made known some of the challenges facing the school, which include lack of teachers' bungalow, inadequate structures for the home economics and visual arts students.

She appealed to corporate bodies and the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) to come to the aid of the school.

The Headmistress also expressed her profound gratitude to the government, for donating a 33-seater bus to the school.