Tullow Ghana has reiterated its commitment to completing dormitory and classroom blocks promised under the US$10 million package to support government’s drive toward improved educational infrastructure for the Free Senior High School Policy.
This follows the handing over of another fully-furnished 570-bed capacity dormitory block to directly benefit 600 of the more than 1300 students at Kikam Technical Institute (KIMTECH) in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.
Other beneficiary schools under the first phase of the project include Nsein SHS near Axim, Sankor SHS in Dixcove – both in the Western Region, and Nsutaman SHS in the Ashanti Region.
The second phase saw Annor Adjaye SHS in Jomoro and KIMTECH, given dormitories while Bonzo Kaku SHS was provided a classroom, with other projects currently ongoing at Bompeh SHS, Shama SHS and Axim Girls’ under the third phase of the project.
Dormitory & bungalow
The facility, fitted with all utilities and a box room, also came with a fully-furnished bungalow for the residence of housemasters/housemistresses to enhance supervision and discipline. The classroom blocks, apart from being well-furnished with the needed furniture plus whiteboards, also spot disability-friendly features for use by all.
The Deputy Managing Director, Ms. Cythia Lumor, said Tullow considers the inauguration of this facility as an opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to the people of the host country.
“The dormitory blocks so far cumulatively houses well over 3000 additional students, and the classroom block supports more than 600 additional enrolments at the Bonzo Kaku Senior High School,” she said.
The projects
“This is the third project to be commissioned this year, and the sixth in a series of 15 projects earmarked for execution over the period of five year,” she added.
Ms. Lumor said the pursuit, development and application of education continues to be bedrock for global growth, development and progress. “Quality education for all” pillar of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reflects the critical role education plays in society.
“That is why in 2018, Tullow Ghana committed to investing US$10 million over five years in infrastructure development to support the government’s policy of providing free access to quality Senior High School education.”
Since independence, she said, the Western Region has and continues to play an important role in the development of the country – agriculture, fishing, mining and manufacturing among its main economic activities.
WR contributions
The region’s economic contribution, she said, is visible and felt in almost every sector of the country’s development today. “We expect the 16-unit dormitory block will contribute to the region’s existing educational infrastructure, and benefit more than 600 students each year. These students, she said, are the hope and future of this country, and Tullow is proud to play a role in developing their creative, innovative and talented abilities for optimum long-term impact.”
STEM education
Furthermore, she said the company is committed to local capacity development, adding that: “We see our Socio-Economic Investment strategy as critical to our success”. “Our priority areas include capacity-building through STEM education and skill development, and strengthening local and national economies through shared prosperity.”
She also indicated that the priority areas would continue to guide all interventions Tullow makes in the country presently and in the future.
The Principal of the Kikam Technical Institute, Mr. Emmanuel Bright Nomah, said the company has been a long-standing partner which, in the past, had provided an overhead water system for the school and now a dormitory.
He further said the prevailing situation is such that boarding facilities are few and can only accommodate only few. “For the records, the institute, with a population of 2,203 and about 1,600 are boarding, managing a space meant for only 1,000 students.”
“Therefore, the gesture by Tullow Ghana, with about 570-bed capacity dormitory, could not have come at any better time than now. It will go a long way to ease the pressure and congestion, if not to eliminate the accommodation challenge completely.”
Nana Etease II, the Divisional Chief of Kikam commended the company for their support for the communities in the areas of education, health, water and sanitation.
He said aside from the water and the dormitory, the needs of the school are more; he therefore urged other companies to emulate the examples of Tullow Ghana to support the development of technical and vocational education in the Nzemamale area.
Source: thebftonline.com