News:
August 25, 2010
The Member of Parliament for Manhyia, Dr Matthew Opoku-Prempeh, has questioned why the government has not stripped the Proprietor of Great Lamptey Mills Institute of his National Award.
According to him, Mr Lamptey-Mills has revealed by his actions that he is not worth the award and that from the series of events that has been witnessed in the school – the Proprietor impregnating and having a child with his student and a teacher of the school being jailed for defiling a child – the award ought to be withdrawn.
Nii Lamptey-Mills was awarded by former President John Agyekum Kufuor for his contribution to education in the country.
He was arrested and charged with impregnating a 16-year-old girl and forcibly marrying her last year but the charges were dropped when the parents of the child opted for an out-of-court settlement.
He was rearrested last week and charged with rape on the instructions of the Attorney-General but those charges were also dropped Tuesday, August 24, 2010.
Former Minister of Women & Children’s Affairs Ekua Sena Dansua earlier advocated that Enoch Nii Lamptey be stripped of national award – an award the proprietor said has been the root of his entire predicament with the ruling party – since it would serve as a clear warning to others to live above reproach.
Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana programme, Mr Opoku-Prempeh said “if the executive strongly feels that this man does not deserve the National Award, it should be withdrawn” because if one earns a degree in a University and brings the school’s name into disrepute, the degree is withdrawn.
He bemoaned the manner in which the A-G went about the case – re-arresting the man when the star witness was not willing to testify against him and eventually setting him free – a situation, he said, further casts a slur on the image of the government.
The Manhyia MP advised parents to endeavour to gain trust and confidence of their children as that will make them feel comfortable to discuss issues concerning their sexuality so that when they encounter such problems with their teachers they can report to them.
By: Dorcas Efe Mensah/myjoyonline.com/Ghana