By Yussif Ibrahim
Nkukua Buoho (Ash), Sept. 12, GNA – It was a moment of political goodwill and shared accomplishment when Madam Patricia Pearl Ankrah, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Afigya Kwabre South, and her predecessor, Mr. Christian Adu-Poku, stood together to commission a three-storey classroom block at the St. Francis of Assisi Model School at Nkukua Buoho.
The occasion, which brought together the two DCEs who served under different political administrations, offered a refreshing demonstration that development projects could transcend partisan politics when the common interest of the people remained the priority.
Mr. Adu-Poku, who initiated the project during his tenure as DCE, was invited as the Special Guest of Honour by his successor to witness the completion and commissioning of the facility.
The two shared the honours at the ceremony, acknowledging each other’s contribution to the project and the development of the Afigya Kwabre South District.
For Madam Ankrah, the completion of the facility was particularly significant because it addressed an urgent challenge she encountered when she assumed office – overcrowded classrooms.
She recalled that during her first visit to the school, she discovered that some classrooms were accommodating as many as 70 pupils, a situation she said had the potential to undermine effective teaching and learning.
“We resumed work on this project in October 2025. Today, we are here to commission this beautiful edifice to improve learning conditions in this school,” she said.
The DCE said the Assembly was determined to improve education infrastructure and position the district to compete favourably in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) competitions.
She said it was her vision to establish a Grade A school in the district and expressed the intention to use the new facility as part of efforts to establish a STEM school.
Madam Ankrah explained that the classroom block was funded through a Quarry Development Fund established by the Assembly from revenue generated from six quarry companies operating in the district.
She said after assuming office, she realised that revenue generated from quarry companies was not directly benefiting communities hosting the quarry operations.
The Assembly, she said, therefore decided that revenue generated from each quarry would first be used to undertake development projects in the host communities before being extended to other communities in the district.
She commended Assembly and Unit Committee members for their roles in revenue mobilisation, saying the revenue generated from quarry companies had significantly contributed to the Assembly’s development agenda.
Mr. Adu-Poku, the former DCE, described the quarry industry as the bedrock of the Assembly’s revenue mobilisation efforts, noting that activities of quarry companies accounted for about 45 per cent of economic activities in the district.
He said it was, therefore, prudent for the Assembly to leverage the sector’s contribution to drive development and improve the living conditions of residents.
Mr. Adu-Poku, who initiated the classroom project during his tenure, expressed appreciation to his successor for inviting him to the commissioning.
He said governance was a continuous process and that although the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) might differ in their policies and ideas, both ultimately sought the development of Ghana.
“I wish to applaud my successor for seeing the need to invite me for this commissioning as the initiator of this project,” he said.
The former DCE’s presence and the acknowledgement of his contribution by the incumbent added a distinctive human dimension to the ceremony, with the two administrations effectively sharing the credit for a facility that would ultimately benefit pupils and teachers.
The three-storey classroom block is expected to ease pressure on existing classroom facilities and provide a more conducive environment for teaching and learning at the school.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Yussif Ibrahim