Over the weekend, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) Foundation presented six fully furnished facilities to schools and a community in the Central Region.
Among the structures donated were a 31-seater sanitary facility for girls at the Ghana National College in Cape Coast and a 12-unit sanitary facility equipped with a borehole and facilities for people with disabilities in Abor, Ekumfi District.
The GNPC Foundation has also delivered additional infrastructure to various schools in the Central Region. This includes a 160-bed capacity girls’ dormitory with a 12-seater sanitary unit for Mando Senior High School and Technical School, as well as a five-chamber Science Laboratory with an ICT centre that can accommodate over 500 students for Bisease SHS in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam (AEE) District.
Furthermore, since 2018, the Foundation has successfully constructed six-unit classroom blocks in 14 other schools, namely Mosano SHS, Effutu SHS, Assin North SHS, Komenda SHS, Dunkwa SHS, and Abakrampa SHS, among others.
Other schools that have benefited from the GNPC Foundation’s infrastructure projects include Mankesim SHS, Swedru SHS, Gomoa German SHS, Assin Jakai Junior High School (JHS), Ankafo JHS, St. Peter’s Catholic JHS, Assin Nyankmasi JHS, and Kuntenase Presby JHS.
These structures were constructed in response to requests made to the GNPC Foundation, which is the corporate social responsibility arm of the Corporation dedicated to enhancing the well-being of all people in the country.
Concluding the commissioning tour at a ceremony in Mando, Dr. Dominic Eduah, the Executive Director of the GNPC Foundation, emphasized that the Foundation operates based on three main areas of focus: environment and social amenities, education and training, and economic empowerment.
By focusing on these areas, the GNPC Foundation aims to make a positive impact on the quality of life for Ghanaians. They believe that providing quality education and promoting environmental cleanliness are crucial in ensuring that every Ghanaian, regardless of their location, can benefit from the country’s oil resources.
Dr. Dominic Eduah emphasized the significance of education as a catalyst for national development. The Foundation is investing in the education sector to make it accessible to every Ghanaian child. In line with this, they have provided 7,300 scholarships to Ghanaian students, including 320 studying specialized courses in fields like medicine, which are not commonly pursued by Ghanaian universities. These students are committed to returning to their communities to contribute their skills and knowledge.
Furthermore, the Foundation has undertaken an environmental cleanliness initiative, constructing 800 water systems across the country, with a majority (70%) located in the northern part of Ghana.
In addition to the aforementioned initiatives, the region has also received the completion of six water system projects in Ajumako Adu-Yaw, Assasan in the AEE district, Mangoase, Suro Dofo in the Gomoa East District, and Kafodzidzi in the Cape Coast Metropolis. These water systems will contribute to improving access to clean water in these communities.
Looking ahead, Dr. Eduah announced the GNPC Foundation’s Skilled Artisan Project (SAP) as part of their livelihood empowerment program.
The SAP aims to graduate approximately 2,000 artisans who have undergone training at the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) and acquired certification and craftsmanship.
These artisans have received apprenticeship training in various vocational skills such as plumbing, fashion design, carpentry, auto-mechanics, general electrical work, hairdressing, interior designing and decoration, and aluminum fabrication. Upon graduation in August, the beneficiaries will be supported to establish their own businesses.
Dr. Eduah expressed the GNPC’s unwavering commitment to supporting communities and institutions in need of infrastructure.
He urged facility managers and authorities to ensure that the newly constructed structures are put to good use and encouraged parents to enroll their children in the schools.
Rev. Ransford Nyarko, the Chief Executive for AEE, expressed gratitude to the GNPC for their generous contribution, highlighting that it will greatly enhance education in the area.