The headache of walking several kilometres to access quality education in the Sawua community in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality of the Ashanti region will soon be over.

This is because the Rotary Club of Kumasi has partnered with the Microfinance Empowerment Foundation in Florida, USA, to construct a six-unit classroom block and ancillary facilities for the community.

Worth 120,000 US Dollars, the project includes a Library to be stocked with books, eight Microflush toilets, a Computer laboratory stocked with Computers, furniture and a Solar panel for the school.

It is expected to improve access to quality education and prevent school children from walking several kilometres to access basic education.

Improvised School Structure

Due to the absence of basic education in the community, children between the ages of two and nine years are forced to learn in a church under the tutelage of a volunteer teacher.

The older ones travel five kilometers to attend school at Asakraka.

Residents of the community, meanwhile, years ago started a school building through a self-help initiative but stalled due to lack of funds.

The Rotary Project

At the ground-breaking and sod-cutting ceremony for the Rotary Project, residents of this predominantly farming community unable to hide their joy admitted the intervention comes as a huge relief to them.

A representative of the Odikro of the area, Thomas Ofori Appiah said school-going children had to walk about five kilometres to the nearby Asakraka community to attend school.

This is because the community is deprived of a school building for many years.

Whiles thanking the Rotary Club of Kumasi for the gesture, Mr Ofori Appiah appealed to Government to come to the aid of the Community.

“Currently, we do not have decent toilet facilities, no potable drinking water, there is no electricity though the Member of Parliament brought some poles during election time but nothing has been done about it. We appeal to the Government to intervene since we also vote".

Assembly member for the area, Agali Peter, said he has exhausted all avenues to get the community of a school building but that has been unsuccessful.

He is however positive the intervention will encourage more children to access quality basic education in the community.

“I will lead the charge to protect and maintain the facility once completed to enable it stand the test of time,” he said.

President of Kumasi Rotary Club, Dr Emmanuel Obeng said the project forms part of the core values of the group which is to promote education and enhance literacy in communities.

“It was after careful Needs Assessment by the Club, that we realized there was the need to come to the aid of the community.”

He appealed to the Chiefs and people of the Sawua community to prioritize the education of their wards and ensure that the project meets its intended purpose when completed.

Service Project Director, Nana Effah Mensah who doubles as International Relations of Kumasi Rotary Club, said the project is expected to be completed in six (6) months.

He thanked the traditional authorities for making land available for the project.