Korean agencies transform Nkankama community
Nkankama, a farming community in the Fanteakwa district of the Eastern region is gradually emerging as the development hub of the entire district, thanks to the activities of the Korean International Co-operation Agency (KOICA) and the Korean Educational Broadcasting System (ESB). The village with a population of about 1,000 inhabitants is situated 12.1 kilometres from the district capital, Begoro.
KOICA has constructed a 3-classroom school building with an office and a library for the Nkankama District Assembly Junior High School and provided furniture. KOICA also built a 3-unit Teachers’ bungalows which can accommodate six families for the school. ESB has provided computers, projectors, exercise books and other teaching aids. Significantly the village is the only one in the entire community with such facilities.
KOICA has dotted the entire district with 11 new school buildings to replace old dilapidated ones. The organization has also built 11 schools for Kwahu North District. These school buildings will be used by Kindergaten, Primary and Junior High School children. It was for this reason that the inhabitants of Nkankama and school children rejoiced greatly at the arrival of KOICA officials, Madam Myungshin Lee, Director/ International Programme Division of World Vision Korea and the President of ESB, Mr. Kwak Duk Hoon and his delegation to their community.
Speaking at a ceremony to welcome them, the District Chief Executive of Fanteakwa district Mr. Abass Hussein noted with gratitude the support Korea has given Ghana over the years and said that such an intervention in the form of educational materials and school buildings were appropriate.
He said the difference between Korea and Ghana was in the area of education, adding that they were prepared to collaborate with Korea to increase the provision of learning/teaching aids, ICT and infrastructure for schools.
The Director of Education, Mr. Kwadwo Owusu thanked KOICA and ESB for the tremendous assistance the district and in particular Nkankama has received. He hoped that the district will benefit from the programmes of ESB to lift up learning in schools in the area.
On his part, Nana Adu Tieku, representative of the Fanteakwa Traditional Council urged parents to take full advantage of the educational assistance offered them and send their children to school.
“All the materials will be useless if parents do not ensure their children utilize them. Take care of them and do not let the district down”, he said.
Mr. Hoon stressed the importance of education and its role in promoting world peace and prosperity.
He said ESB will continue to promote collaboration with the district and promised to provide internet connectivity for the schools.
School children treated the audience to good traditional dances and elaborate music rendition as a precursor to the exchange of gifts by the Koreans and community leaders, the District Chief Executive and Teachers.
By Kwasi Nantwi