From Isaac Akwetey-Okunor
The Fanteakwa South Member of Parliament (MP), Kofi Okyere Agyekum, has handed over a six-unit classroom block with office and computer laboratory worth over GH¢300,000 to the Osino Methodist Primary School.
The chiefs and people in the farming community within the constituency were over joy, especially, pupils of the school, since teaching and learning for over 65 years now have been taking place in wooden structure, which could best be used for goats. Speaking at the function, the MP, who is affectionately known as Arafat, said he made education and health his major priorities when picked to lead the constituents in the area in Parliament, hence the construction of the school building.
He explained that the state of the Osino Methodist Junior High School (JHS) has one of the most dilapidated school buildings in the Fanteakwa District, and, therefore, called for immediate intervention to save the lives of the over 200 children who use the facility. According to him, the school, which was constructed about 65 years ago, has not seen any renovation, and its state continues to pose an imminent disaster.
Arafat stated that he started the construction of the school about a year ago with his share of the MPs Common Fund, in order, not to only save the lives of these children, but their education. He further assured the community and the constituency of his endless determination to bring development to every nook and cranny as far as he remains MP for the area.
Meanwhile, the MP has mentioned the construction of three unit blocks for the Busoso Presby Kindergarten blocks at Hemang and Bepoase, as well as rehabilitation of the Osino, Busoso and Begoro health centres, as some of his ongoing projects in the constituency.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr. Emmanuel Ntiamoah, expressed his gratitude to the MP for his initiative, and appealed to other MPs in the country to emulate the kind gestures of Arafat and contribute significantly towards the development of education in the country.
Like Oliver Twist, Mr. Ntiamoah further called on non-governmental organisations (NGOs), individuals and corporate bodies to support the school with the construction of computer laboratory and other learning material.
Rt. Rev. Michael A. Bossman, Bishop of the Koforidua Methodist Diocese, on his part, charged the teachers of the school to make good use of the facility, and ensure that children benefit immensely through effective teaching and learning.
He assured the MP to exorcise the Ghanaian curse of poor maintenance, to ensure that the lifespan of the facility becomes the ultimate priority of both the church and community, to pave the way for generations yet unborn to also benefit from it.