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| Management of Zain joined by the headmaster and others on a tour of the building |
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| MD of Zain Ghana, Mr. Philip Sowah (left); and Head of Corporate Communications and External Affairs of Zain Ghana, Carmen Bruce Annan touring the school on the day of the first visit. Watch full video via this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLVH07UUu1k&list=UU7ljxYzKiZJZYmrQI8c0nLA |
The
Presbyterian Junior High School at Odumase-Krobo in the Manya Krobo District of
the Eastern Region has finally found a rescuer.
Zain
Ghana has restored smiles back on the faces of the pupils and teachers of the
school after 121 years of neglect.
Prompted
by a report carried in the May 7, 2009 edition of the Daily Graphic, the
management of the company has taken an immediate step to demolish the crumbling
building originally built in 1888 to prevent a worse form of the disaster which
hit the school late last year, claiming a life and injuring three others.
In
its place, the company would rebuild a three classroom block with an office, a
staff common room, a fully stocked library in addition to a well-furnished
computer laboratory.
Five
other adjourning classrooms which were later built after the original bock but
which are not in a dangerous condition would also be renovated.
Work
on the project would start immediately after the ongoing consultation with the
stakeholders.
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| The Headmaster narrating the incident to the Zain officials |
Explaining
the rationale behind the project at a short ceremony with chiefs and people of
Odumase-Krobo on the premises of the school, the Chief Executive Officer of
Zain Africa, Mr. Chris Gabriel, said the project formed part of the company’s
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), fitting directly into the “Build our Nation” activities lined up to
help in the country’s development.
He
stated that Zain was committed to making a difference in the communities in
which it operates, adding “When we heard of the condition in which the children
were being taught, we were moved to act promptly”.
“Having
seen the structure, it seems to us that it is beyond repairs and so must be
completely rebuilt”, Mr. Gabriel stressed adding, “Education is a basic human
right; children should not have to face threatening condition just to get
education”.
Mr.
Gabriel also commended the teachers for making the effort to educate the
children in what he described as a challenging situation, adding “The spirit
with which you teach these children is a reflection of the core values of
Zain”.
In a
speech read on behalf of the District Director of Education, Mr. Augustus Nii
Lantei Cleland, he thanked the Management of Zain for the timely intervention
to save the situation and promised Ghana Education Service’s support throughout
the project.
For
his part, Sipim Mate Kole who read the welcoming address on behalf of the
Konor, Nene Sakite II, lauded the initiative taken by Zain and urged all stakeholders
to emulate it, adding that your “assistance could not have come at a better
time”.
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| Sipim Mate Kole delivering the speech on behalf of the Konor |
In
an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Headmaster of the school, Nene Seth
Ayertey, who vividly looked elated and relieved expressed his appreciation to
the company for going the extra mile to do such a project as part of its CSR,
adding that “this would go a long way to help provide a conducive environment
for teaching and learning which has long eluded the school and to ensure the
safety of both staff and pupils”.
When
contacted for their comment, a representative of the teachers, Mr. Henry
Mensah, told the Daily Graphic, “Our safety now looks assured” and he wondered
if any of the teachers would still continue to issue threat to desert post for
safety.
Zain,
which started operating in the country barley six months ago and the first to launch
the widest 3.5G network coverage (the fastest in the country and Africa)
now has great presence in the Greater Accra Region with over 800, 000
customers.
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| Zain officials and media men arriving at the school on the day of the first visit |
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| A cross section of the pupisl listening to a Zain official talk |
Video available via this link:
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