Armah-Kofi Buah commissions 12-unit classroom block at KIMTEC

The Member of Parliament for Ellembelle and Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, on Monday commissioned a newly completed 12-unit, two-storey classroom block for the Kikam Technical Institute (KIMTEC) at Kikam in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.

The project, which started in 1978 and was abandoned for 48 years, was completed under the government’s policy to complete all abandoned legacy projects.

The commissioning ceremony brought together traditional leaders, the District Chief Executive for Ellembelle, Joseph Agyekum; the Western Regional Director of the Ghana TVET Service, Oware Agyekum; management, staff and students of KIMTEC; and residents.

Armah-Kofi Buah, who commissioned the facility, expressed gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama, the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and the Ministry of Education for reviving and completing the project.

He said the government’s Resetting Agenda, which prioritises the completion of abandoned educational infrastructure, had positively impacted KIMTEC.

He described KIMTEC as the best-equipped technical institute in mechanical engineering, welding and fabrication among Ghana’s technical institutes and expressed pride in the school’s facilities.

The MP announced that enrolment of girls in the newly introduced garment and fashion programme had increased from 30 to more than 100 this year and pledged to donate seven industrial sewing machines to the department this week.

He assured management that he would continue to lobby the Ministry of Education for new buses for the school and to address concerns over inadequate teaching staff, the need for additional classrooms, toilet and washroom facilities, and campus beautification and lighting.

He charged the students to take their studies seriously and make good use of the facility.

“Every minute, every hour, every day matters on this campus. Many of you are carrying the hopes and aspirations of your families to break the cycle of pain and poverty. Make the right choices,” he said.

He urged them to rise above their challenges and become future leaders and cabinet ministers.

Earlier, the Principal of KIMTEC, Emmanuel Nomah, on behalf of the Board of Governors, management, parents, staff and students, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the government for the new facility.

Nomah said that upon assuming office, he met four abandoned projects, comprising three government projects – campus access roads, a dining hall and the classroom block being commissioned – as well as an old students’ washroom project.

He said the classroom block had stalled since 1978 and had become a habitat for reptiles, with no fewer than three snakes spotted around the enclave. This compelled management to caution students to stay away from the area.

He said several letters were written to stakeholders, including the MP, seeking the revival of the project. He disclosed that he had to seek traditional prayers at the chief’s palace when contractors finally arrived on site because of doubts about whether the project would be completed.

Nomah said the revival of the government project had inspired old students to revive their 15-year-abandoned washroom project, with work commencing last week and expected to be completed within two weeks.

He eulogised Armah-Kofi Buah, saying the history of KIMTEC could not be properly told without mentioning his name.

He recalled that about 12 to 15 years ago, when Buah was Minister for Energy and Petroleum, he masterminded the Oil and Gas Capacity Building Project for the school. This led to the rehabilitation of the Mechanical and Welding Departments, the injection of more than two billion cedis into the school at the time, the donation of a Toyota Hilux pickup, which the school was still using, and the construction of a gas dormitory.

He also recounted that during a water crisis, when the entire school depended on only one well, Armah-Kofi Buah supported the school’s water project with GH¢20,000 on the eve of Christmas, even when his party was not in power.

On his part, the District Chief Executive for Ellembelle, Joseph Agyekum, said the completion of the classroom block was a dream come true after years of abandonment.

“The history of this project dates back many years. Unfortunately, the project was abandoned for years and the dream of providing a decent classroom remained unfulfilled. However, through the decisive directive of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama that all legacy projects be completed, hope has been restored,” he stated.

He said exactly one and a half years after that directive, what was once an abandoned structure was now a fully completed, beautiful classroom block ready for use.

Agyekum thanked President Mahama for his visionary leadership and Armah-Kofi Buah for his foresight and continuous follow-up to ensure the project was completed.

The students expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah for facilitating the completion of the project.