Dwendwenase (Ash), Sept. 20, GNA – The people of Dwendwenase, a farming community in the Asante-Akim South Municipality, have finally completed a classroom project, which has been under construction for about 20 years.
Work on the three-unit classroom block had been at a snail pace due to lack of funding, despite the good intention to provide a decent classroom for the pupils, until the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) stepped in.
As of August 2020, the structure had been roofed and was about 90 per cent complete but without doors and windows.
However, the selection of the community as a beneficiary of a social auditing programme being implemented by the NCCE enhanced the completion of the school project.
The programme, which forms part of the Accountability, Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (ARAP), with funding from the European Union, provides a common platform for citizens to plan, implement, monitor and evaluate development projects.
It also helps to promote community ownership of projects and increase the awareness of operations of the local government system to ensure citizens demanded accountability from duty bearers.
A durbar on community needs assessment by the NCCE, led by the Municipal Director, Mr Gaston Edem Defoe, in August 26, last year, with the chiefs, assembly members, unit committee members and opinion leaders, settled on the completion of the 20-year old classroom project as the topmost priority.
The Municipal Assembly, some organisations and individuals contributed some funds while others pledged to donate building materials for the project.
The citizens also accepted to pay GH₵20.00 and GH₵10.00 by males and females, respectively, as levies to enhance the completion of the project while the youth and local artisans provided communal labour.
The project was successfully completed with the commitment of all stakeholders and constant monitoring of progress of work by the NCCE, through the Social Auditing Committee.
At a ceremony to commission it at the weekend, Nana Owusu Akyem Tenten II, the Chief of Dwendwenase, paid glowing tribute to the NCCE and community members for their commitment to see the school project come to fruition.
It was attended by the Member of Parliament Mr Kwaku Asante Boateng, and the Municipal Chief Executive, Alexander Frimpong, among other dignitaries
GNA