US Peace Corps for Eastern Region sworn-in

Ms Helen Adwoa Ntoso, Eastern Regional Minister, has commended Peace Corps volunteers for their spirit of volunteerism in accepting to serve in rural and underprivileged schools in the country.

She said the volunteers accepted to serve under conditions which some Ghanaians would not want to do.

Ms Ntoso said this in a speech, read on her behalf at the swearing-in ceremony of 19 Peace Corps volunteers at Addo-Nkwanta, in the East Akyem Municipality.

She said they would be fully accepted as community members at their various destinations, saying that, “Your integration into the communities will not only ensure your safety and security, but it will also give you the opportunity to affect people’s lives positively in the formal and informal setting”, Ms Ntoso added.

The Regional Minister advised the volunteers to note that they would be seen as role models, change agents and most importantly, ambassadors of the United States of America and asked them to live beyond reproach.

“The adults, youth and particularly the children are definitely going to look up to you as their mentors and are most likely to adapt your lifestyle and even your profession”.

Mr Gene A. Cretz, the US Ambassador, on his part, said his country respected and cherished its relationship with Ghana and therefore asked the volunteers not to do anything that would affect that relationship.

Mr Michael Koffman, Peace Corps Country Director, commended the Eastern Regional Minister for working diligently to support their pre-service training efforts and keeping their trainees safe.

He expressed gratitude to the chiefs and elders and the “host families” in the area for their support to the programme.

The volunteers are teachers who will serve in schools of the Deaf, the Junior and Senior High Schools in different part of the country as Art, Mathematics and Science teachers.

Source: GNA