Betty Delivers First Emilia Monjowa Lifaka Lecture
02-10-2023
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Commonwealth Education Trust (CET) Ms. Betty Abeng has urged Members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Parliament (CPA) to devote some of their time and resources to help children within their constituencies to cultivate the habit of reading.
According to Ms. Abeng reading is the gate way to learning and at least every child at the age of ten (10) must be able to read.
Ms. Abeng made these appeal to the MPs at the inaugural Emilia Monjowa Lifaka Lecture at the on-going 66th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Accra, Ghana.
By way of applauding the MPs for their hard work, Ms. Abeng noted that more often than not constituents confront their MPs about their problems. She emphasised that the fact that MPs may approach a Minister or raised problems affecting their constituents on the floor of the House seeking for solutions is an act of commitment and service to the country. Therefore MPs have a bigger say in solving many problems including helping children to read.
“We all have a role to play to empower the human capital of our children and let’s give the children a sense of hope" she stated.
The Chairperson of the Lecture and the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Cameron, Hon. Mary Muyali Boya noted that the late Emilia Monjowa Lifaka was passionate about the activities of CPA, stressing that she would go the extra mile to sponsor MPs with her personal resources to make sure they attend every programme of CPA.
She expressed her appreciation to CPA for the lecture in memory of the late Emilia Monjowa Lifaka and indicated that there would be series of such lectures in the near future.
In response to the Lecture, the Director of Associates for Change West Africa, Dr. Leslie Casely-Hayford, noted that enhancing education in West African countries like Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone among others is not only about increasing the salary of Teachers.
She was of the view that there is lack of commitment among many teachers because they can hardly stay in the classroom for more than three (3) hours. She added that every one can contribute to a child’s education, stressing that education brings about peace and unity.
In his welcome address, the CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg noted that Emilia Monjowa Lifaka was the Chairperson of the CPA International Executive Committee and Deputy Speaker of Cameron.
He added that the late Monjowa Lifaka was a passionate champion of CPA and served as CPA Chairperson from November 2017 to her untimely passing in April 2021. He noted that the Lecture was intended to provide a fitting tribute to her work.
The Member of Parliament for Akatsi North in the Volta Region of Ghana, Hon. Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, who was representing the International Parliamentary Network for Education (IPNEd) gave the vote of thanks and commended the maker of the keynote Ms. Betty Abeng for challenging the MPs to help children in their respective constituencies in their education.
