Hot!
TARPSA climaxes 60th anniversary in grand style
• Nana Abena Boaduwaa II (fouthfrom right) flanked by the dignitries
to unveil the dining hall project
Members of the Past Students’ Association of Tarkwa Senor High School (TARPSA), last SaturdaY took Tarkwa by ‘whirlwind’ when they celebrated their 60th anniversary in a grand style.
Th event, on the theme ‘Achieving academic excellence evoked a cocktail of memories flavoured with joy, merry making, and reminisces of the period gone, but not forgotten.
As former classmates embraced and shouted , they reflected on forbearers, who slept on the floor, fetch the only source of water from Bediabewu stream nearby, and the disciplinary regime that moulded their future.
It was a moment of laughter and tears of joy.
Former Mates were also heard re-echoing nicknames they gave teachers and also solemnised those who had passed on. It was a celebration of fashionable style, as past students and guests, clad in anniversary cloth waxed with the motto ‘Carpe Diem’ – seize the opportunity.
Indeed, it was a goose – pimpled occasion that unfolded at the Tarkwa Senior High School (TARSCO) park.
It was an event that witnessed the blend of martial march and traditional dances spiced with peals of hymns from the school choir.
The school’s naval cadet, under the command of Under Officer, Sandra Ntiakoh, exhibited a splendid performance that exemplified the maxim of preparedness, martial discipline and the character for future leaders.
Undoubtedly, the 51-member contingent showed dexterity in time, marksmanship, precision and espirit de corps.
Indeed, they gave an eloquent testimony, that these were next corps TARPSCANS ready to lift the banner and hold the torch of TARSCO in the next century.
What increased the crescendo was the splendid performance by the band. They never wavered when even Master of Ceremonies (MCs), including Fiifi Boafo of COCOBOD, in ‘violation’ of military protocol, prompted them to leave the quadrangle.
Led by the Drum Major, they remained resolute and resumed their antics before returning to base, in style. And the applause from the gathering was deafening and echoed which could even be heard down valleys of TARSCO and beyond the mining enclaves.
The cultural troupe also mellowed and melted the hearts of the guests including the Queenmother of Apinto Division, Nana Abena Boaduwaa II, Apinto Gyaasehene, Nana Dr Adarkwa Bediako III, Coordinator, Technical Division Ministry of Finance and TARPSA National President, Mrs Hannah Owusu-Koranteng.
They cruised on cloud nine while the atumpan and fontofroms pumped the air with throbbing rhythms. Indeed, the ecstasy was fantastic.
Ms Mends, who could not hide her joy, recounted her stay at TARSCO and mentioned that “it was all joy to be here again.”
She revealed how she swept the hen coop of one housemistress, Miss Adjei and benefitted by enjoying chicken soup on Sundays.
“It’s great to be in TARSCO. You might come here with no dreams, but, with time, you find friends, who will stand by you, nurture and inspire you. House mistresses may be strict on you, but, ultimately, it’s a good habit not just for today, but, also for tomorrow,” she recollected.
Thanking stakeholders, especially TARPSCANS, Mrs Owusu -Koranteng, prayed that God should guide them for another successful anniversary.
She said “ It has been a very wonderful week full of events, excitement, and challenges that have almost threatened our ability to succeed. We made it and it is a success that each one of us can identify with.
“It is the Lord and the spirit of team work. All I can say is Ayekoo because there is nothing more beyond that. I am trusting that this is just the beginning of bigger things to manifest.”
Mrs Owusu-Koranteng continued “What we set out for ourselves appears to be huge. We can achieve this goal and it is my prayer that when we plan for the 65th anniversary, the uniting force would be how we will be handing over the flagship to our alma mater.”
The Headmaster, Mr George Oduro, celebrated the collectivity of the TARSCO spirit of Carpe Diem, especially from staff and TARPSA for their efforts in development, stressing that, “the toils of the founding fathers continue to bear fruits.”
TARSCO charted its future in September, 1961, with 59 pioneers- 46 boys and 13 girls, who had no dormitories at the time, under the tutelage of the strict, principled headmaster, late Charles Kodwo Enyawosika Stephens.
From Clement Adzei Boye, Tarkwa
Hot!
Swedru All Blacks back to winning ways, Roshan humble King Faisal
Sekondi Rospak FC made it eight wins in eight successive home games after three second-half goals from John Amoah, Joseph Ntow and Stephen Anthony Kofi. John Amoah opened the scoring in the 55th minute after a barren first half. Joseph Ntow added to the tally in the 56th minute before Stephen Anthony Kofi rounded things up in the 74th minute to give Rospak a 3-0 win over former Premier League side King Faisal.
Elsewhere at Swedru – leaders Swedru All Blacks humbled PAC Academy in an emphatic 2-0 win. Zayat Bubakari scored first for Swedru All Blacks in the 27th minute before Rudolf Junior Nana Kwasi Mensah made it 2-0 in the 34th minute. Swedru All Blacks are top of the table with 36 points – 4 points ahead of second placed Rospak FC.
Meanwhile, Former Premier League side Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs recorded their fourth successive home victory after beaten New Edubiase United 2-1 at the Robert Mensah Park. Enoch Odoom struck first for Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs in the 19th minute but Steven Asante equalized for New Edubiase United before halftime. After the interval, Godfred Eshun scored from distance in the 65th minute to help Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs secure all the points.
Here are the results in Zone Two
Hot!
Cervical Cancer alert: Avoid sex at early age
The Programmes Manager of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Mary Efua Commeh, has advised young girls to avoid sex at an early age.
This, she explained, will give the cervix the opportunity to mature before they become sexually active.
“You need to delay what we call the first sexual intercourse as much as possible to give the cervix the opportunity to mature before the person becomes sexually active,” she said.
Dr Commeh stated this in an interview with The Spectator in Accra on Tuesday as a part of the Cervical Cancer awareness month.
According to her, cervical cancer was the second leading female cancer in Ghana with a total of about 3,072 cases annually, and out of that, 1,815 deaths are recorded, representing more than 50 per cent.
She indicated that “If young girls are going to be sexually active, then you need to talk to your parents about being vaccinated.”
She explained that vaccinating young girls against human papillomavirus (HPV) has been found to be a very effective way of preventing cervical cancer.
“There are countries that started HPV vaccination years ago and they are not seeing any cervical cancers now because they would have eliminated most of the high-risk HPVs in their women. So if the high-risk HPV is not there, then obviously the results on cervical cancers are going to go down,” she added.
Dr Commmey said the HPV vaccination is recommended for young girls aged nine to 14 years, adding that it had been found to be highly effective, not just for cervical cancers but for other HPV-related cancers, such as anal cancers, cancers of the vagina, genital warts, amongst others.
She further elaborated that the idea is to put up a barrier before the HPV comes in and that once a young female encounters it, she is already protected.
She also mentioned that for cervical cancers, the main cause is called HPV infection, saying generally, all sexually active women acquire HPV at some point in their lives.
However, the Programmes Manager of NCDs at the GHS mentioned that the body has a way of clearing the HPV, explaining that it is a natural mechanism that goes on, unfortunately, there are a few women whose HPV persists.
Moreover, she noted that the numbers for Cervical Cancer tend to be much higher because at times, clients would wait, and try all sorts of medications before they finally report to the health facility saying “we actually lose some women before they get to the hospitals with over 75 per cent of the cases coming in its third and fourth stages.”
Dr Commey, therefore, called for public awareness while ensuring the availability of information for prevention and control.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
