Yonguase Gets Three Unit Classroom Block; Thanks to Pencils of Promise, LMKMA

The Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Chief Executive in collaboration with Pencils of Promise, A Non-Governmental Organization operating mainly in the Volta and Eastern regions has commissioned a three unit classroom block furnished with sanitation facilities for the Yonguase M/A primary school.

The headmaster of the school, Mr. Solomon Nartey in his welcome address regretted the lack of infrastructural development for the school, fifty-three after its establishment.

This is against the status of the school as the only educational facility in the community; providing educational opportunities to children in Yonguase and surrounding communities including Gornya, Popotia and Kpom.

Mr. Solomon Nartey in expressing his profound gratitude to Pencils of Promise and the Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Assembly for the project was hopeful that the facility will enhance effective teaching and learning if well maintained.

Pencils of Promise

Pencils of Promise, a Non-Governmental Organization with the focus on improving access to education and literacy has been operating in the country for the past six years.

Projects Manager of the organization, Mr. Anthony Quarshigah who disclosed that the facility at Yonguase was the sixth of such interventions by the NGO in the district added that the NGO was currently undertaking 139 similar projects across the country with 23 ongoing in the Volta region.

Lack of Electricity supply

The people of Yonguase aside the poor educational facilities has had to contend with lack of electricity supply over the years.

The situation compelled the Projects Manager of Pencils of Hope to call on the MCE, Hon Simon Tetteh to extend electricity to the area as well as the construction of a good road network.

Mr. Anthony Quarshigah promised to extend the benevolence of Pencils of Promise to more districts in the Eastern region in respect of a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU.

Revamping the spirit of communal labour in the various communities, he urged the chiefs, is a sure way to help develop the area.

Mr. Narh Tetteh, a representative of the Municipal Education Director, Madam Barikisu Adams, applauded Pencils of Promise and the Assembly for establishing the facility which he observed came as a big relief of the directorate.

“A burden has been lifted from the directorate since it was a problem when classes were held under trees with snakes,” he said.

He therefore entreated teachers and the community to put the facility to good use to ensure effective teaching and learning whiles urging parents to feed their children on balanced diet to improve on their learning abilities.

He also appealed with Pencils of Promise to extend the projects to other deplorable schools within the municipality.

Municipal Chief Executive

Municipal Chief Executive, Honorable Simon Kweku Tetteh who was impressed with the short duration taken to complete the project, applauded Pencils of Promise for the gesture, adding that, education remains a necessity in the socio-economic growth of the country.

While admitting that the responsibility of ensuring quality infrastructure cannot be done by government alone, the assembly courted the benevolence of the private sector for their support.

Hon Simon Tetteh took the opportunity to urge the Municipal Education Directorate to intensify their supervisory roles in the district maintaining that the facility must be well maintained to serve its purpose.

The Municipal Chief Executive then assured the community on plans to construct solar powered mechanized bore hole, fix their road and extend electricity to the area.

This assurance fell in line with unending calls from residents in the past on the Lower Manya Municipal Assembly to extend developmental projects, such as portable water, schools, quality healthcare and good roads to the area

The program was graced by officials from the Municipal Education Directorate, Executives of Pencils of Promise, Traditional leaders, Teachers, parents, students among others.

Yonguase, a farming community in the Lower Manya Krobo district, has a population of 300 inhabitants and produces crops like plantain, cassava and tomatoes.

Source: Joyce Bedeley/ritefmonline.org/jbedeley9357@gmail.com