Mr Seth Acheampong ( in suit) with Dr Cecilia Odame and the

ECG officials lifting one of the electricity poles

The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Seth Acheampong has cut the sod for the commencement of the re- electrification of the Seventh Day Adventist College of Education (SADCOE and its environs at Asokore, Koforidua on Thursday.

The GHc1,658,366.47 (about 1.7 million Ghana cedis) project was aimed at improving the power supply system in the college and some sec­tions of the Asokore community.

Speaking at a short ceremony for the programme, Mr Seth Acheampong said the driver of any economy is found to be adequate power supply hence the commitment of government to ensure that all the communities which has not been connected to the national grid receive their portion of the national cake.

He also said that education is one of the bed rock of fast development of the nation, therefore for the past six years the government has not relented in its efforts to the improve­ment of infrastructural development of educational sector.

He said he was therefore happy to be part of the elimination of one of the biggest negative effects of the SDA College which was lack of energy supply that greatly reduces teaching resources and classroom materials in the nation’s educational sector.

He praised the Principal and the school authorities for working hard to ensure proper teaching and learning despite the numerous challenges in the school.

In her welcome address, the College Principal, Dr Cecilia Ofosua Odame said adequate power supply was found to be missing in the school for the past years and was worrisome to both students and staff because it was affecting the development of the school negatively in all aspects.

She described how lack of energy supply in the college also translated into complicated work for staff and the school administration, coupled with students having small time to study and to complete their assign­ments.

Dr Cecilia Odame commended the Ministry of Education, ECG and other stakeholders contacted for heading to the college’s plea on time because the improvement of the power supply was going to enhance staff retention, lead to better teacher training and provide teachers with better and new skills and techniques for improved practices in the classroom.

She noted that teachers are the custodians of knowledge and their function is to transfer skills and knowledge to students.

She said that with the improve­ment and supply of electricity supply in the school they could access infor­mation from other world of education for effective teaching

The Eastern Regional Director for ECG, Madam Sariel Adobea Etwire said the project duration was twenty one days and because of the urgency of it, two contractors, DK Afoakwa and Fofoamo have been charged to execute it.

She appealed to the students and staff to assist them to work within the stipulated time.

The Chairman for the programme, Nana Twumasi Dankwa, Gyasehene of New Juaben Traditional Area, thanked the government and the Re­gional Minister for the project which would go along way to open up the infrastructural development of both the college and the Asokore commu­nity.

The two contractors pledged to work within time to enable the stu­dents gain access to electricity power to improve their knowledge.

According to them, the project duration was supposed to be one year but due to its urgency, it has been reduced to 21 days and it was their hope to finish before time.