Accra, Ghana//-MTN Ghana today handed over an ultramodern 24-unit classroom block to the Ghana Police Education Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES).
The new block which comprises a Nursery and Kindergarten, a Primary School, and a Junior High School was single-handedly funded by the MTN Ghana Foundation at the cost of GHC3.4 million.
The facility which is said to be the fourth largest educational investment of MTN Ghana is expected to provide a conducive teaching and learning environment for about 2,500 students of the Police Depot at Tesano, a suburb of Accra.
“Most importantly, it is so refreshing and rewarding to see the smiles on the faces of the children after waiting so long for this new facility to be completed.
The new facility will ease the current pressure in the school and catchment area and will provide a more comfortable learning environment for teaching and learning. What will bring even more pride to us at MTN is if we see a massive improvement in the results of the children and their general wellbeing as a result of this investment”, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, Selorm Adadevoh, said at the handing over ceremony.
Handing over coincides with 25th Anniversary
The handing over is happening in a year that coincides with MTN Ghana’s 25th anniversary celebration. “This fits in perfectly as we say thank you to our cherished customers and partners for the support and loyalty throughout our 25-year journey.
It is also a time to deliver on our role in supporting the communities within which we operate through corporate social investments, and this school is representative of that”, he added.
What was the motivation in undertaking the project?
“Our motivation for taking on this project was fueled by our understanding that the school had been operating from a colonial, weak and dilapidated structure with no decent washroom facilities, library nor ICT laboratory.
The classrooms were also overcrowded and unable to accommodate the high student population. This endangered the lives of the pupils and had become a matter of great concern to the Police Administration”, Mr Adadevoh indicated.
So officials from MTN Ghana visited the school and sent a report to the MTN Ghana Foundation board for the approval of the construction of a 24-unit classroom block with relatable facilities for the Ghana Police Education Directorate.
“We cut the sod for this facility in 2019 with great ambitions for how quickly this will be completed for its use. Unbeknownst to us, a deadly virus was lurking and had other plans for the world.
It has been a challenging period dealing with the recovery and adjustment of Covid-19 but regardless, we continued to pursue our Brightening lives agenda and today, we stand proud in admiration of this important edifice and the impact it will have on many lives”.
Appreciation to partners
Mr Adadevoh used the occasion to thank all their partners who supported this project, the engineers, the architects, the consultants, the supply chain team and finally, the construction team.
“We are grateful to you all for your commitment to the completion of this quality educational facility”.
Foundation’s intervention and its expected outcome
The MTN Ghana Foundation’s intervention is not just out of necessity but also out of a commitment it has made as a company to brighten the lives of communities within which it operates.
“MTN Ghana believes that education is an enabler of many possibilities. Therefore, during this Covid-19 period we prioritized support for educational institutions and provided free access to over 200 educational websites in the country”, Mr Adadevoh said.
Commitment
Since its inception, the MTN Ghana Foundation has invested over $15 million into 158 projects with 85 projects under the education portfolio. It hopes its support in this sector will complement the government’s efforts in ensuring education is accessible to every Ghanaian of school going age.
“We are aware that the youth accounts for over 60% of our population, and it is for this reason that we have shifted our key strategic focus of our Corporate Social Investments (CSI) towards youth empowerment. Our approach to CSI is to systematically enhance competitiveness and drive inclusive growth”, the CEO said.
Future
“Going forward, we will continue to support our communities in the best way we can through the MTN Ghana Foundation.
As we all continue to adapt to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, one thing we have learnt is that technology and digitalization is key to our survival. We are excited that ICT training will form an integral part of this school’s curriculum going forward and we urge the young students here to take these lessons seriously”.
Opportunities
The opportunities that digitization brings are enormous; MTN Ghana being an enabler can attest to this. “Technology is leading the way and we look forward to participating in this revolution through meaningful education”.
Take your ICT studies very serious
Delivering a keynote address at the ceremony, the Minister for Communication and Digitalisation, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful advised the school children to take the studies of ICT very seriously.
This she said is because ICT could connect them to wider and limitless opportunities in Ghana and other parts of the world.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful thanked MTN Ghana and its Foundation and the management of the Ghana Police for working together to deliver the project.
While Commissioner of Police (COP) Alex Mensah, Director General In-charge of Technical of the Ghana Police, who represented the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, assured that the Police administration would maintain the newly handed over facility for the benefit of the children and those unborn.
African Eye Report
