By Naa Shormei Odonkor
Aburi (E/R) Sept 03, GNA – The Aburi Amanfo M/A Junior High School (JHS) building in the Akuapim South Municipality of the Eastern Region has seen its first major refurbishment after 37 years of its establishment.
The refurbishment was carried as part of a project executed by Ms. Naa Shormei Odonkor, Ms. Gould Benney and Mr. Abraham Atawura, 2021 Fellows of Lead for Ghana (LFG), in partnership with the chiefs and elders of the Aburi Amanfo Electoral Area, with financial support from World Connect.
Mrs. Naa Shormei Yayo Gyamfi, one of the Field Leaders for the Aburi Amanfo M/A JHS Renovation Project and an Alumnus of LFG, speaking to journalists during a visit to the project site, said the project was carried out in three phases consisting of the Re-roofing and Ceiling, Rewiring and Lighting, and Painting.
“The project which is in three phases was budgeted for a little over Gh¢63,000 of which the community was to contribute 25 percent of the total cost, 15 percent in kind and 10 percent in cash as World Grant provided 75 percent of the cost in cash,” she noted.
However, she said due to the poor economic status of the community members, they only contributed 30 percent of their share of cash contribution.
Mrs. Gyamfi noted that the renovation project was initiated after a rainstorm unroofed more than 50 percent of the school building leading to the destruction of school properties including important documents and textbooks.
Also, Basic Seven learners were forced to study under trees since the classroom became a risky place for teaching and learning until the Member of Parliament for Akuapim South and SamGyi Farms, donated money for the purchase of new roofing sheeting to be fixed, she added.
Ms. Gould Benney, also a Project Field Leader and an Alumnus of LFG, said quality education included the provision of a good environment to enhance teaching and learning.
The renovated block, she said, would improve school attendance, enhance academic performance and foster quality education delivery in the school.
“We are privileged to contribute to providing quality education for learners in underserved communities through teaching, project initiation and implementation,” she noted.
She urged the school authorities to take good care of the school and to practice a maintenance culture to secure the lifespan of the new materials.
Mr. Seth Akwagyiram, the head teacher of the Aburi Amanfo M/A JHS thanked the 2021 LFG fellows for implementing the project despite the many challenges they faced.
He assured them that the management of the school would take good care of and ensure that all the new equipment was kept in undamaged shape.
GNA