The Assembly Member for the Kalbeo Electoral Area, Sonny Ayariga, has presented mathematical sets and pens to candidates of Ayuusi-Yine Junior High School ahead of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) scheduled for Monday, 4 May 2026.
The donation, made to students in the Kalbeo community in the Bolgatanga Municipality, is part of an annual initiative by the assembly member to support students and encourage academic performance.
“It’s one of my responsibilities as an assembly member for Kalbeo,” Mr. Ayariga said. “In fact, it’s not just today. Since I took over as assembly member for Kalbeo Electoral Area, it’s one of the things I have always done because I take education seriously. If not because of education, I wouldn’t have been here.”
Mr. Ayariga said the gesture has become a routine since he assumed office. “When I took over as assembly member, the first year, those that wrote, I think two years ago, I presented the same items to them. I presented mathematical sets, pens. I think last year, those that wrote, I did the same, and those that are writing this year, that is what I have done again,” he stated.
The assembly member said the support goes beyond materials, noting that he regularly visits to motivate students. “They are my children. At least some of them are my younger brothers, my children, my younger sisters. And I come here all the time to talk to them before they go to write their BECE exams, and I think it will serve as an encouragement,” he said.
He also uses the initiative to reward top-performing students, with promises of cash prizes ranging between GH¢500 and GH¢1,000 for those who score between Grade 6 and Grade 19.
“So I have promised them that whoever performs well, I will get the person something, so I think it will motivate them. Those that are not ready to learn, definitely it will motivate them to learn because they know that the assemblyman is behind them,” he said.
Mr. Ayariga acknowledged that previous results had not been encouraging but maintained the incentive to push students. “Last two years, last year they failed to perform. But this year too, trying to see whether they’ll be able to make me proud. At least whoever gets that grade from 6 to 19 will get something. But even if they go beyond 19, I’ll still give them the cash prize.”
He said he regularly holds PTA meetings to engage parents on their role in education.
“I have always encouraged parents to discipline the children at home. They should guide them. It’s not only those who do not have time for the children,” he said.
He added that parents elected him as assembly member and it is his duty to ease their burden. “Their parents elected me as an assemblyman, and I’m the assemblyman because of their parents and themselves. So I want to lift that burden from parents and also take that responsibility as an assemblyman to always buy them items for the BECE.”
The assembly member urged parents to take their children’s education seriously. “If they fail tomorrow, it means that we are doomed. It means where are they taking us to? So these are some of the things I have been doing. I’ll continue. They should take their children’s education seriously because it’s one of the things that when they grow, they become better people in society.”
Ramatu Sayibu, headteacher of Ayuusi-Yine Junior High School, expressed appreciation to the Kalbeo Assembly Member for the donation and urged parents to give their children the necessary support during the exam period.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | David Azure | Bolgatanga
