Renowned preacher and education advocate, Reverend Eastwood Anaba, has expressed grave concern over the devastating impact of tribal and ethnic conflicts in the Upper East Region, warning that these tensions jeopardize the education and future of countless children.
Speaking during the 25th anniversary celebration and graduation ceremony of Four Rivers International School in Bolgatanga, Rev. Anaba called for collective prayer and deliberate action to secure lasting peace. His appeal comes against the backdrop of the protracted Bawku conflict, which has claimed numerous lives, including targeted attacks on students, and led to the closure of schools in affected areas.
“The pockets of tribal and ethnic conflicts and agitations jeopardize the education of our children and their future,” Rev. Anaba lamented. “Let us create peace for our children and secure their future. It is not enough to try. Let us do it.”
He emphasized that the responsibility to build a peaceful and united region transcends mere rhetoric and requires sacrifice, intentionality, and shared commitment. “All stakeholders in education in the region must be in agreement with the outcome we want. The land is not charitable to those who think their disadvantage will be rewarded with success,” he stated.
Underscoring the transformative role of education, Rev. Anaba praised Four Rivers International School and similar institutions in the region for providing hope and quality education that keeps young learners closer to home, sparing parents the painful decision of sending their children to boarding schools in southern Ghana.
“From a modest beginning, the school has pushed aside obstacles and overwhelmed obstructions to give young learners a new day that is full of hope and fulfillment,” he said. “The visionary leaders of the school saw opportunity in a land which others termed desolate.”
Rev. Anaba also paid tribute to the school’s founding director, Reverend Mrs. Rosamond Anaba, for her commitment and openness to modern educational practices, which, he noted, have helped instill order, excellence, and transformational leadership among learners.
As the region grapples with challenges, he urged parents, educators, and community leaders not to settle for half-hearted efforts but to rise together for the sake of the next generation. “Those who merely try to do something tarry in the wilderness of non-achievement… We must pay the price for the comfort and the convenience of the next generation,” he declared.
The ceremony, which marked 25 years of the school’s impact, concluded with some deserving staff and learners being honored for their hard work and commitment.
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