Japan offers grant for the construction of school

The Japanese Embassy in Ghana has provided a US$118, 891.00 grant for the construction of a six-unit classroom block for the Aserewadi Primary School in the Amenfi East District of the Western Region.

Mr Naoto Nikai, Japanese Ambassador to Ghana announced this on Wednesday when he signed an agreement to that effect in Accra.

He said under the Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGHSP) Scheme, the Government of Japan was making funds available to Source Trust Ghana, to implement the project.

Mr Nikai said it was a public-private partnership project to be facilitated under the GGHSP for Source Trust Ghana, a non-profit organization that promotes community development.

He reiterated that in collaboration with their partner Meiji Co. Ltd, a chocolate confectionary company in Japan, Source Trust Ghana would ensure the success of the community venture.

The envoy noted that the project entailed the construction of a six-unit classroom block with offices and a two-unit urinal, adding that the facility was estimated to accommodate 200 pupils with the requisite teaching facilities to pursue their basic education.

Mr Nikai said the assistance was to support Aserewadi Primary School to overcome its current challenges in carrying out academic activities.

He said Aserewadi Primary School currently had an old dilapidated three-unit structure partitioned with wooden panels to serve seven classes including a kindergarten.

He lamented that during school hours, academic activities in the classrooms interfered with one another, as noises from neighbouring classes could be heard loudly across the wooden partitions.

He said apart from its deteriorating structure, the overcrowded condition of the school had also discouraged many children from pursuing their basic education within the community.

Mr Nikai emphasized that providing a better facility will encourage enrolment in the community, raise the standard of education and give pupils the needed foundation towards a better community development.

He said the GGHSP was set up in Ghana in 1989 and had since funded a total of 238 projects country wide, adding that the latest school project would be the 120th project under the education sector alone.

He expressed gratitude to Source Trust Ghana, Meiji Co. Ltd, Amenfi East District Assembly and the entire community for their efforts and expressed the hope that they would continue to support the project and contribute to the educational growth of the area.

Mr Yoshinori Doi of Miji Co. Ltd said he believed the project would contribute towards improvement of the living standards of the people of Aserewadi.

Mr Vince Mcaleer, Director of Source Trust Ghana said although the project was a baby of Meiji Co. Ltd and funded by the Japanese Government, his company would manage its execution.

A formal agreement was signed between the Japanese Embassy and Source Trust Ghana for the construction works, while another was signed between Meiji Co. Ltd and Source Trust Ghana for the supply of furniture.