Compassion International Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), is constructing a six-unit classroom block for the Sawer Municipal Assembly Primary School at Somanya, under its Sawer Apostolic Child Development Centre programme in the area.
Constructed at a cost of GH₵310,000, the classrooms will be used by both the nursery and junior high school (JHS) — three for each section.
The construction is in response to requests and reports about the dilapidated nature of the structures in which children in the school studied.
The Project Director for Sawer Apostolic Child Development Centre programme, Mr David Tetteh Oshiakor, who disclosed this to The Mirror in an interview, said the facility would be handed over to the authorities by September this year after completion.
Report In the June 29, 2018 issue, The Mirror reported that the school was among some schools in the Yilo Krobo Municipality in the Eastern Region that was in serious crisis, including ripped off roofs and the lack of desks.
At Sawer Primary, for instance, classes were conducted under trees due to the unavailability of decent classrooms.
Children had to study under trees
That, Mr Oshiakor said, informed the NGO’s decision to go in and provide the needed support.
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Other schools, namely the Yilo State JHS, Ahabaso Primary, and the Somanya MA Primary were also struggling with classrooms.
“We realised that since there were no decent classrooms, children usually studied under trees. When children get to JHS, they have to continue in another school because the school had none,” he stated.
Briefing The Mirror, Mr Oshiakor said the Sawer School new block was currently at the roofing level, and said he was hopeful that the contractors would finish on time and hand over the facility.
He said the facility was made up of two offices, a library and washrooms for teachers and students. “It is expected that it will be completed and handed over by September for use. We will also furnish it with tables and chairs together with a lightening system.
Bigger project Mr Oshiakor indicated that the Sawer School project was part of a bigger one — Sawer Community Development programme that would see the construction of a football pitch and playground, canteen, and a Kumasi Ventilated-Improved Pit (KVIP) for use by both the community and the school as a future plan.
The roofs of the old block was ripped off
“We have started with the construction of a 10-seater toilet facility which is being constructed alongside the classroom blocks which can be used by both the school and the Sawer Community,” he stated.
The Project Accountant, Mr Samuel Ohene, also emphasised that there were other projects which would start soon, “all with the aim of improving the lives of the people in the area, particularly children.”
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