ZAIN GHANA HANDS OVER ODUMASE PRESBY JHS BLOCK (BACK PAGE)

ZAIN Ghana yesterday inaugurated and handed over a new six-unit classroom block to the Odumase Presbyterian Junior High School in the Lower Manya District in the Eastern Region.
The unit is furnished with tables and chairs, stocked with 30 computers connected to the Internet, a library, a staff common room , a headmaster’s office, washrooms, a rain harvesting facility and a pumping machine.
The building, which is disability-friendly, was constructed within three months in fulfilment of a promise the management made to the people of Krobo-Odumase to rebuild their dilapidated school building.
The facilities of the school will be made available for use by surrounding schools in the district.
The reconstruction of the 121-year-old crumbling structure, which is the only government JHS in the area, followed a publication of the plight of the school in the May 7, 2009 issue of the Daily Graphic.
The report revealed that the school faced imminent closure since the crumbling building was not only a danger to the students and teachers but also did not provide a conducive environment for teaching and learning.
Parts of the roof of the structure, which had never been rehabilitated since it was constructed in 1883, often flew about anytime it rained, leading to the death of a 13-year-old student, Bernard Nartey, on one occasion.
He was killed by falling debris that also injured three other students during a heavy downpour as the children run for cover.
In an address at the inaugural ceremony, the Chief Executive of Zain Ghana, Mr Chris Gabriel, expressed the pride of his outfit to be associated with the provision of the new six-unit classroom block for the pupils of the Odumase Presbyterian JHS.
“We are not only proud to have delivered on our promise but are also proud of the high spirit and passion our staff showed towards the construction of this facility that will put a smile on the faces of these future leaders,” he stated.
“Since our children are the future leaders, who have a basic right to education, we are resolved to work with stakeholders to ensure a bright future for these young ones,” he added.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey Enyo, commended Zain Ghana, for demonstrating the commitment to educational development in the country as part of its corporate social responsibility.
According to him, the new school building would immensely provide a suitable teaching and learning environment not only for the students of the school but also for others in the surrounding schools in the district.
For his part, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, also commended Zain Ghana, for its commitment to educational development in the country, adding, “you have proved by your commitment that you are a worthy ally to form a partnership with to build a wonderful world for our people”.
Responding to an appeal by the headteacher of the school, Mr Ampofo directed the Lower Manya Krobo District Assembly and the district education directorate to help fence the school to protect it against activities of criminals.
The headteacher of the school, Mr Seth Aryeetey, praised Zain Ghana, for their prompt response to the needs of the school, a gesture that, he said, would go a long way to improve teaching and learning.