MTN Ghana has handed, officially, a 24-unit classroom block over to the Ghana Police Service at ceremony in Accra.
The GHS 3.4 million facility contains a Nursery and Kindergarten, a Primary School Department, and a Junior High School Department with a student population of approximately 2,500. The new facility will also ease the current pressure in the school and catchment area and will provide a more comfortable learning environment for teaching and learning.
The state-of-the-art facility is also fitted with the requisite infrastructure and technological equipment capable of enhancing pupils knowledge on information technology in the fast growing digital world.
The school dates back to colonial-era but its blocks had not seen any major developments, leaving students to study in an unsafe environment and in overcrowded classrooms. MTN Ghana Foundation in 2019 cut sod for the construction of the 24-unit classroom block to address the challenges of the school.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the Ghana Police Service and the Police Training School, Tesano, on Friday, 10 th December 2021, Selorm Adadevoh, CEO, MTN Ghana said due to the poor condition of the Police Depot Cluster of Schools, the facility cannot cope with the increased student population and provide a suitable learning environment for the pupils.
According to him, the motivation for solving this pressing infrastructural challenge was fueled by their understanding that the school had been operating from a colonial, weak and dilapidated structure with no decent washroom facilities, library nor ICT laboratory. He added that they realized the classrooms were also overcrowded and unable to accommodate the high student population, this, he explained endangered the lives of the pupils and had become a matter of great concern to the Police Administration.
“We hope our support in this sector will complement government’s efforts in ensuring education is accessible to every Ghanaian of school-going age. Going forward, we will continue to support our communities in the best way we can through the MTN Ghana Foundation,” Mr. Selorm Adadevoh assured.
The facility was commissioned by Hon. Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the Minister for Communications and Digitalization, describing it as an investment into the future of the country. “Education was a means through which citizens could attain a bright future,” She said while delivering a keynote address at the ceremony. “The classroom block represents a vital investment into the future of the Ghanaian child.”
She implored the pupils to take their Information Communication Technology studies serious because it could provide them with the key to unlock future job opportunities.
Meanwhile, Hon. Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful revealed that, the government of Ghana has arrayed plans to establish Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) centres across the country and encourage students not to think of themselves as not mentally equipped to compete with male counterparts in certain fields.
Joining in on the praise for MTN Ghana, COP George Alex Mensah, Director General, Technical who represented IGP George Akuffo Dampare extended appreciation to the telecommunications outfit for putting up an edifice that will relocate school children to a safe environment.
According to him, due to the intensity of the work of the Formed Police Unit (FPU), it was crucial the school pupils were relocated from the same compound. “I have had an earlier opportunity to inspect the facility and I can say on certainty that it has been properly constructed to serve the intended purpose,” COP George Alex Mensah added
The ceremony saw in attendance: Hon. Henry Quartey – Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon. Darkoa Newman – MP for Okaikwei South Constituency, Hon. John Ntim Fordjour – Deputy Education Minister, HE Grace Janet Mason – South African High Commissioner, COP George Alex Mensah – Director General, Technical and the rep of the IGP, Cynthia Obuni – Municipal Director for Education, Dr Ken Ashiegbey – CEO of the Telecoms Chamber, Prof. Franklin Manu – MTN Ghana Foundation Board Chairman, Isaac Emil Bonsu – National Communications Authority Board Chair, Joe Anokye – Director General, National Communications Authority and more other dignitaries.
Photocredit: Howard – Press Member, Hon. Darkoa Newman – MP for Okaikwei South Constituency.
