A mechanized borehole estimated to cost GHc48, 000 has been constructed and commissioned for the Akrokyere Presbyterian primary school in the Sekyere Kumawu District of Ashanti region.
The school was established on September 1, 1955 by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in partnership with the people of Akrokyere community. The project, dubbed Devine Intervention borehole, was founded by Dr. Kelli Ducloux, an American philanthropist and founder and Chief Executive Officer of SOTA International Limited.
The borehole is the first of five to be commissioned in the Ashanti Region as part of 50 boreholes the donor has envisaged to construct in Ghana. The Akrokyere project was facilitated by Prof. Ahmed Agyapong, Provost of the College of Humanities and Social Science of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and initiated by Madam Sutherland Adwoa Dawn, CEO of Bridge-To-Africa Connection (B-TAC).
Dr. Kelli Ducloux said at the commissioning ceremony on Monday that her mission to Ghana was to fulfil her vision of providing 50 water Wells to deprived communities noting that water is key to life.
Madam Adwoa Dawn, who has relocated to Ghana since 2006 assured of her preparedness to stay in Ghana and help with development and impact lives of people in deprived areas.
She called on Ghanaians and Black Americans to return to their roots and help develop communities to make the difference in the lives of the people.
Prof. Ahmed Agyapong, a product of the school, noted that the provision of water for the pupils and teachers will help improve quality of education. He wondered how the pupils coped without safe drinking water for seven hours while in school besides observing basic of washing hands in an environment that had no water.
The university Don commended the donor for her generosity, which he noted, would promote health, improve sanitation and support quality education.
Nana Kwame Obeng Frimpong, Head of Supervision of the District Directorate of the Ghana Education Service called for a culture of maintenance to prolong the lifespan of the borehole.
The outgoing headteacher, Justice Sena Amafu, said access to reliable and sustenance source of water for the school had been a major challenge until Dr. Kelli’s intervention. He noted that water was an essential part of school life and needed for hand washing, cleaning, maintaining proper sanitation and hygiene and ensuring a safe and healthy environment for the pupils and teachers.
Nana Konama Ababio, Queen mother of Akrokyere presented a portrait of Dr. Kelli to their benefactor as a sign of appreciation while the pupils performed cultural dances and poetry recitals to entertain the gathering.
At the commissioning ceremony were Mr. Kwaku Twum, School Improvement and Support officer (SISO) of the GES at Dadease Zone; Eric Gyamfi, PTA chairman; Madam Susana Amaniamping, Chairperson – School Management Committee and Mr. Asafo Adjei, representative of Kumawu MP, Hon. Ernest Yaw Anim.
From Oswald P. Freiku, Akrokyere
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