A $25,000 ultra modern 15-seater Computer Laboratory, christened Johnson & Walker Computer laboratory, has been commissioned at the Atasemanso Roman Catholic Primary school in Kumasi.
The facility was provided by The Bridge-To-Africa Connection (BTAC), with donations by two USA-based couples, Mr. and Mrs. Daryl Walker and Mr. and Mrs. Ron Johnson, from Los Angeles, California, to add to the existing infrastructure in the school and thus impact on the pupils and the Atasemanso community.
It was dedicated to Mr. Walker’s cousin, late Madam Micki Grant, an Award winning composer, lyricist, poetess, actress and activist from New York, who died in 2021, in recognition of her passion to inspire children to believe, pursue and achieve “Impossible things.”
Daryl Walker is a retired Sales and Operations Executive with over 30 years of combined experience successfully managing and implementing complex initiatives and programs while his wife, Tarita Hollingsworth Walker, who works tirelessly to create opportunities and resources for marginalized youth in her community and beyond, strives to ensure that all children, regardless of their circumstances, have access to the support and opportunities they need to thrive, through her leadership and dedication.
Tarita, is a beacon of hope and empowerment, inspiring others to join her in creating a more inclusive and equitable society.
Last Wednesday Mr. and Mrs. Daryl Walker, former senior executives of Xerox Corporation, joined the leadership of BTAC, Headmistress and staff of the Atasemanso Primary school as well as the traditional leaders of the community including Nana Owusu Barima III and Nana Afia Konadu , Chief and Queen mother of Atasemanso, to commission the computer laboratory amid a fanfare, under the chairmanship of Nana Osei Okuradom.
Mr. Walker, on behalf of the donors, said they were inspired by the spirit of collaboration and generosity and appreciation for Madam Dawn’s passion to change the lives of Africans and Ghana described as “our home and heritage”.
He noted that with the commissioning of the computer laboratory, children would be encouraged to learn effectively and unlock the doors of their dreams to secure their future stressing that the future belongs to all for which opportunities should be made available for all children.
He commended Rev. Sister Grace Nuamah, the headmistress of the beneficiary school for dedication.
Madam Sutherland Dawn, believing that knowledge is power, promised to continue to help create leaders by empowering children to make an impact in society.
Mr. Nicholas Bassaw of the Monitoring and Supervision Unit of the Kumasi Metro Education Directorate, noted that science is the chief driver of the world and called for support of all stakeholders to address a challenge of adequate resources.
Rev. Sister Grace Nuamah expressed appreciation to BTAC and all donors who have added to the infrastructure of the school to make a huge difference over the years by presenting citations and certificates of honour to the donors.
She described Madam Dawn as a wonderful soul and woman of substance whose life changing initiatives have impacted on the lives of the people of the community.
Rev. Father Theophilus Agyemang Nyamekye, Local manager of the Catholic Church called for proper maintenance of the facility to prolong its lifespan. He described the computer laboratory as a hub of creativity to develop talents.
Nana Owusu Barima III, chief of Atasemanso lauded the collaborative efforts of the donors and the ties between Ghana and the USA as well as the developmental agenda of BTAC for the enormous contribution to the development of the Atasemanso Roman Catholic School and the community.
Bridge-To-Africa Connection (BTAC) led by Madam Sutherland Adwoa Dawn, the Executive Director, is dedicated to investing in education and health in Ghana and Africa through development partners of African Americans in the Diaspora.
Madam Dawn Sutherland’s passion for the development of Africa, which informed her relocation nine years ago to Ghana as her second home, explains her tireless efforts to promote education and empower the girl-child and women under her mission of “Changing one life, one person at a time,” under the Unlimited Possibilities programme.
Since 2016, BTAC has adopted, rehabilitated and equipped eight government schools at the Primary and Junior High School (JHS) levels in the Ashanti Region with the help of great partnerships and a circle of supporters of about 900 visitors to Ghana occasionally to help.
The BTAC has also provided the Atasemanso R/C Primary School with a state-of-the-art library, christened “Beautiful Minds Kids Library”, as well as providing over 500 seated desks and the roofing of a four classroom block.
It also renovated a four classroom block and provided 108 seated desks for the Atasemanso M/A JHS with the assistance of Dr. Donta Morrison and friends.
The BTAC has renovated the Kindergarten (KG) classroom and the bathrooms of Mampong Bunuso and provided “Boots on the Ground” donated primarily by IBWPPI, one of BTAC’s partners, to help the IBWPPI Women Empowerment Group in the village where the women farmers who are taught how to be self sufficient.
The beneficiary schools of BTAC initiatives are New Kokobriko in Abidjan Nkwanta (Bosomtwe District) and Feyiase R/C Primary School, both in the Bosomtwe District; Hemang M/A JHS and Hemang R/C Primary in the Afigya Kwabre South District.
The rest are the State Experimental Basic 1 and 2, Atasemanso R/C Primary, and Atasemanso M/A JHS in the Kumasi Metropolis.
At the New Kokobiriko Primary School, BTAC installed a borehole, completed a new 10- room block classroom and a new six-stall toilet facility, outfitted 10 classrooms and provided 200 seated desks, besides providing a breakfast and lunch programme for nursery to class one for 200 children daily.
The BTAC has also installed a borehole and water elements to provide an endless flow of water for the students of Feyiase Primary and JHS.
BTAC has also renovated all the classrooms and school blocks of the Hemang M/A JHS, and provided each of the six classrooms with 30 seated desks.
The Hemang R/C Primary has had its 12 classrooms renovated and provided with over 250 seated desks, including special round table desks for the kindergarten classes.
The State Experimental Basic 1 and 2 schools have benefitted from the construction of a new 12-stall toilet facility, and the renovation of a four-room block classroom facility and teachers’ lounge, with the provision of 250 seated desks in six classrooms by the BTAC with the help of its developing partners.
BTAC also serves 294 children, primarily in the Ashanti Region and currently sponsoring the SHS education of 24 students at GH¢3,500 per student in addition to the provision of books and materials.
Meanwhile, Madam Dawn has disclosed that “To date, BTAC and its circle of friends and partners have donated over $3 Million in real money and supplies to Ghana”.
