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SOS Children’s Villages Ghana, Jossiam Company Limited commission water project for five schools in Abuakwa North
As part of efforts to provide clean and potable water for school children and the community, the SOS Children’s Villages Ghana in collaboration with Jossiam Company Limited, the Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly, Ghana Education Service, has commissioned a water pump installation project for five schools in the Abuakwa North Municipality.
The water facilities entailed a mechanized borehole, fitted with a 5000-litre water tank and a standing pipe, each for the beneficiary schools in Kukurantumi, New and Old Tafo and Obodanse.
The project would enable pupils from the beneficiary schools to have access to clean and portable drinking water, which would impact positively on their health, education and overall well-being.
The National Director of SOS Children’s Villages, Ghana, Mr Alex Mar Kekula said access to clean water was a fundamental right that shaped the destiny of communities and added that the provision of the water facility would enable the pupils to have access to clean water that would promote good health, hygiene, and create an environment for conducive learning.
“This project symbolizes our collective commitment to ensuring that every child, regardless of circumstances, has access to a fundamental resource essential for life,” he noted.
He revealed that over the years, his outfit has been a beacon of hope and support for many vulnerable children, families and communities in the country, adding that they have created not just homes for children but communities that nurtured and uplifted those in need.
He said through their Family Strengthening Project which aimed at actively empowering families to stay together and has been in existence for the past five years in the municipality, the Village has engaged in several projects including providing access to essential social services like education, health and good nutrition to 1,323 children, providing WASH facilities to 10, 579 school children in 7 schools among others in the municipality.
He said the water project was part of the many projects that have been provided by his outfit and hoped that the water facilities would have a positive impact on the lives of children and the communities
“This water project is not merely a water project, but a lifeline to schools and communities around then,” he said and called for the need to provide the essential resources for the existence of children and communities.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Abuakwa North, Alhaji Babs Bodinga said the provision of water facilities in the schools has complemented the development of the area and has expanded access to basic social services.
Commending the SOS Children’s Village, he said their contribution was worth emulating and pleaded with them to extend their projects to other parts of the municipality and urged the schools to own the water facilities and maintain them for future generations to have access to them.
The Headmaster of one of the beneficiary schools, Kukurantumi M/A JHS ‘A’, Pastor Peter Agbeko said the water facility was a relief to the schools as children previously had to go fetch water during contact hours, adding it was a challenge that impacted negatively on the pupils’ education.
He thanked the SOS Asiakwa Children’s Village for such a kind gesture and called on all stakeholders to collaborate with the schools and provide the needed infrastructure that promoted good learning environments for the pupils.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Tafo Kukurantumi
Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Mahama, has made a generous donation to the country’s national female Under-17 and Under-20 teams – Black Maidens and Black Princesses- as they continue preparations for major international assignments.
The donation, made on Friday, May 22, was presented on behalf of the First Lady by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, at the GFA Technical Centre in Prampram.
The gesture forms part of efforts to motivate and support Ghana’s young female footballers as they prepare to represent the country on the international stage.
The donation included essential food items and toiletries aimed at supporting the welfare and well-being of the players and technical teams.
The donation included cartons of Milo, T-rolls, soft drinks, toiletries, and a range of essential supplies aimed at supporting the welfare of the players, enhancing camp conditions, and easing preparations ahead of their respective assignments.
The Black Maidens are currently engaged in preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and are set to take on Liberia women’s national under-17 football team in the second-leg encounter in Liberia this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Black Princesses have already secured qualification to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after overcoming Uganda in the qualifiers, extending Ghana’s remarkable record to eight consecutive appearances at the tournament.
The donation by the First Lady was expected to boost morale within both camps while reinforcing national support for the young female footballers who continue to make the country proud.
The prosecution has officially rested its case in The Republic v Solomon Asamoah & Another, the high-profile legal battle commonly referred to as the “Sky Train” case.
The Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai announced the development, praising the state’s team of hard-working prosecutors for successfully anchoring the state’s evidence before the High Court.
The criminal trial centers on the former Chief Executive Officer and the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
The duo stands accused of illegally authorizing and paying out US$2 million to a foreign company without obtaining board directives or other mandatory statutory approvals.
State investigators have confirmed that the disbursed millions cannot be found.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the accused persons moved the court for an opportunity to file a submission of no case.
The presiding judge granted the application, ordering the defense to submit their arguments by June 8.
The outcome of the June 8 filings will decide the fate of the trial:
With this, if the judge finds the defense’s submission convincing, the accused will be acquitted and discharged however, If the judge dismisses the submission, the court will order the accused officials to take the stand and explain why they should not face prison sentences.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
