The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) Foundation has completed and handed over a six-unit classroom block to the chiefs and peoples of Wassa Atobiase in the Wassa East District.
The classroom block is furnished with tables, chairs and ceiling fans and will replace the old structure used by the pupils of Wassa Atobiase D /A Basic School.
The new structure has a 216 seating capacity, with each of the classroom having two ceiling fans. The contract for the project, Bossman Engineering Works Limited, was awarded in 2021, and the contractor started work 18 months ago.
The project is the final phase of the GNPC handing over projects in the region within the last two months. During this period, a 12-seater sanitary facility at Mumuni Camp, three-unit classroom block at Yepimso, and another three-unit block at Ohipenika, all in the Amenfi West District of the region, have been handed over.
Handing over the Atobiase six-unit classroom block, the Executive Secretary of the GNPC Foundation, Dr. Dominic Eduah, pointed out that the completed block would certainly touch lives. The Foundation, he said, had embarked on a regional commissioning of projects throughout the country with the aim of touching and impacting on lives.
He underscored the need for the facility to be put to good use and for the purpose for which it was built.
He stressed that in all places the Foundation had commissioned projects, the message was one – “If you wanted more, then you would have to take care of the one you have first.”
Dr. Dominic Duah, however, expressed the hope that the facility would aid in better academic success and laurels for the school. He said, given that the school was scoring good grades at the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the old structure, the new one should certainly set a new target for the pupils.
The GNPC Executive Secretary made it aware that the Foundation had embarked on a number of projects, including construction of Astor turfs, dining halls and many others with the intent to impacting lives. These projects, he said, were deliberately selected for the region, because it was the home to oil.
The Chief of Wassa Atobiase, Nana Kweku Bukoro II, expressed joy over the completion and handing over of the project, and charged the pupils to make good use of the facility. He said, given that the pupils scored better grades using the old structure, the new facility should serve as a springboard for more academic successes.
He mentioned that, all 160 candidates, who sat for the last BECE, passed with 13 attaining top grades.
“If they were able to score top grades in the old facility, then certainly they would do better in this new facility.”
The Wassa East District Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Ernestina Winful, whose speech was read on her behalf, commended the GNPC Foundation for the project, and said, the project meant a lot to the community, chief, and the most especially, the pupils, who would use it, given that, it would ensure a better teaching and learning environment.
Those present at the handing over ceremony included John K. Amoah, Assembly Member for the area, Emmanuel Acquah, Parent Teacher Association Chairman, Pastor Godwill Fuseini, John Bossman Opoku, Nana Yaa Frempoma, and Obaahema of Wassa Atobiase amongst others.
