Ghana-German Association Donates to Three Schools

The Ghana-German Association (GGA), a group based in Hanau, Germany, has once again donated an amount of 4,200 Euros, equivalent to ?45million to three schools at Agormeda in the Dangme West district of the Greater Accra region.

The Association did the presentation at a colourful ceremony here last Monday, during which a durbar was also held to honour representatives of the Association, Mr. and Mrs. Awah, for their continuous assistance to the community.

Presenting the cash donation, Mr. Narh Awah said even though the GGA supported other activities also, such as addressing women's concerns and providing income generating helps, it would focus on education for the children first because they (children) were the leaders of tomorrow.

He said he hoped the authorities of the three selected schools, the Presbyterian Primary School, the District Assembly Junior Secondary School, and the Integrated Community Centre for Employable Skills (ICCES), would put the money to the purpose for which the donations were made. They were to share the money equally (?15m each).

In a short speech, Narh hinted that a chunk of the fund he had presented was got from the city of Hanau, while others came from a church and local shop in the city. He presented also a wristwatch each to the boys' and girls' prefects of the JSS and advised them to use their time profitably.

Responding, a spokesman of the youth of the town, Godsway MacBright, on behalf of the community, thanked the donors for their benevolence and promised that the money would be put to good use. The community requested for assistance for a pre-school classroom block that they had already provided sand and stones for, play kits, teaching aids, toilet facility, furniture for the JSS department and a community library.

The Paramount chief of Shai, Dzetse Nene Nagai Kassa VII, expressed his joy at the donation to the three schools, which was to be used in providing more infrastructure for pupils' learning comfort.

He recalled that two years ago (2002), the couple donated ?6million to ICCES and ?3million to the Presby Primary School. He added further that last year (2003), the same couple donated another ?8.5million to the primary school to complete a classroom block.

This year's donation was made directly to the headteachers of the various schools.

And as a sign of gratitude, Dzetse Kassa conferred a chieftaincy title on the donors. Narh was honoured with a development chief title under the stool name Noyam Matse Nene Narh Awah I, while his wife was enstooled First Lady of Agomeda. They were dressed with beautiful neck and wrist beads to match, while the Paramount chief poured libation to the ancestors to seal the installation process.

Present at the ceremony were Nene Martey Agidi II (Wekumatse of Ologotsowe), Nene Adjartey Zorku (Oyeheko Matse), Nene Awatey Bana Atrukpa I (Divisional Chief of Dodowa), Otseame Adamtey Teinor (Chief Linguist), Nana Yower Yohi (Queen mother of Agbotaa), Mr. J.C.B. Buer (assemblyman for Agomeda electoral area), L.T. Nagai (ICCES centre manager) and Godsway MacBright (S.M.C. chairman).

The durbar ended with a cultural display and drama by the pupils of the JSS entitled: 'The love of money is the root of evil.'

GGA was formed in 1997, and has since helped many communities in the Greater Accra region. It currently has 20 active members, many of whom are based in Hanau, Germany.