Sunyani Central Rotary Club has cut sod to commence the construction of a 4-unit classroom block with an office for the Yawhima SDA Basic School at Sunyani in the Bono Region. 

The project, a partnership with four Rotary Districts and five Rotary clubs in the USA, is at a total cost of USD59,696 (GH¢342,421). 

The project which will replace the dilapidated wooden structure currently being used as classrooms, will provide a safe and secure classroom structure and improve the teaching and learning environment for both pupils and teachers.  

The Kindergarten, Primary and Junior High sections of the school will each have a 10-unit micro flush toilet facilities to provide the pupils access to safe and environmentally friendly places of convenience.

Provision has also been made for text and library books, classroom and library furniture, in-service training for kindergarten teachers and attendants, WASH education for all pupils, and audio-visual set for teaching and learning at the school. 

Speaking ahead of the sod-cutting, the President of the Club, Rotarian Dominic M. Kornu expressed his delight at the prospects of the project and urged the beneficiary school and community leaders to dedicate themselves to the successful execution of the project. 

He said, “We must all be willing and ready to sacrifice our time and energies to make sure this project is successfully implemented for the benefit of our children now and in the future.”  

While emphasizing the importance of education in poverty reduction and the general empowerment of an individual, the contact person for the project, Assistant Governor, Frank Kofi Owusu Debrah said the construction of the kindergarten and toilet blocks is expected to be completed and handed over by December 2020.

“I implore all the stakeholders to actively monitor the construction to make sure all design and specifications are strictly followed to achieve the project aim”, he said.

The Assistant Governor further noted that “this project is wholly financed through a Rotary global grant with cash contributions from the Rotary Foundation, the Rotary Clubs of Sunyani Central, Key Biscayne, Cheraw, Rocky Mount, Prince George County and Rotary Districts 6990, 7770, 7690 and 7600”.

On her part, the Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive Officer, Justina Awo Owusu Banahene expressed her profound gratitude to the Rotary Club of Sunyani Central for their tremendous work in the Municipality and beyond. 

She however beseeched the school and community leaders to offer any needed assistance to the workers and cooperate with the contractors to complete the project within schedule. 

”It should be your delight to sometimes give water and food to the workers to motivate them and to discuss concerns with the contractor and Rotary Club people to support the completion of work”, she advised. 

The Chief of Yawhima, Nana Ansu Ababio who graced the sod-cutting ceremony, thanked the Rotary Club of Sunyani Central for coming to the aid of the school. 

While thanking Rotary for involving the traditional authority in the project, the chief advised other NGOs to work with traditional authorities in their community development activities.

He called on the contractors to recruit some of their workers from the community.