The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) Foundation has offered to build two school buildings and sanitary facilities for the Appiatse community.
The Foundation will, as soon as practicable, put up a six-unit and three-unit classroom blocks for students in the community.
“Education is at the heart of what we do at the Foundation. We’ve realized that the only 3-unit classroom block that they have here is down. It means that they don’t have a JHS. What we have decided to do is to immediately look at possible means of providing a six-unit classroom block being primary and a three-unit classroom block for the JHS. Again, if you take a glance, you can see that the sanitary facility here is not one that anyone can talk about. And so we are also going to provide them with a new sanitary facility as well,” Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation Dr. Dominic Eduah told opinion leaders of Appiatse on a visit to the community.
The 3-unit classroom block for the Appiatse community was completely destroyed by last Thursday’s explosion.
The roof, ceiling, desks and chairs, as well as the school building itself were destroyed.
Luckily, all the school children were lead to safety before the explosion.
Eye witnesses recounted how the driver of the vehicle conveying the explosive materials spent more than 20 minutes warning management of the school about the impending danger before he proceeded into the community to do same.
The community is without any school building now, raising worrying concerns over what becomes of the academic life of students.
“The academic calendar certainly cannot wait for the students of Appiatse because of this unfortunate incident. That is why we want to as soon as practicable put up these classrooms for the students to ensure that they do not suffer double jeopardy. We are committed to this cause and will ensure it is speedily done.”
However, he mentioned that the construction will largely be dependent on the State Housing Corporation and how soon they will begin the rehabilitation process of the Appiatse community.
“As soon as possible, I will be in talk with the State Housing Corporation to know their preparations towards the reconstruction, so that the component we are supposed to provide can be added accordingly. I’m sure that the whole place will be razed down and unless that is done, we cannot start but immediately it is done we will move in. As I said, education cannot wait, so maybe it will be the first thing that we will provide as far as the rehabilitation process is concerned,” Dr. Eduah noted.
He also mentioned that scholarships will be awarded to tertiary students to lessen the plight of their parents as they recover from the tragedy.
“We have engaged the opinion leaders to help us get the right data to ensure that students from the community are enrolled on the GNPC scholarship. And because this is an emergency, the process of awarding the scholarship will not be as rigorous as we all know only that there has to be a proof of admission and indeed that you are a resident of Appiatse. It will be a full scholarship package to ensure that all expenses are duly covered to relieve affected parents of any financial obligations.”
By Eric Yaw Adjei|Connect FM|3news.com|Ghana