Work on solar energy plant starts at Suma-Ahenkro
A sod-cutting ceremony for work to begin on a free installation of a solar energy plant at the Suma-Ahenkro Senior High School in the Jaman North District of Brong-Ahafo took place at Suma-Ahenkro on Wednesday.
On completion in January 2016, the project, which is estimated at GH¢1 million, will supply constant electricity to the school and beyond.
The project is being constructed by a team of students from the Maryland University in the United States.
According Mr Bryan Quinn, Engineer Responsible for the project, the students are members of the “Engineers without Borders”, a US-based non-governmental organisation (NGO).
He told the Ghana News Agency, in an interview, that the team would spend five days in the community to finish the first phase of the project, and returned next year to complete it.
Other team members include Nick Lutschaunig, Project Lead, Christina Krueger, Education lead, Sarah Niezelski, Communication Lead, Brendan Dwyer, Tool Master and Bryce Meadows, Structures Lead.
Mr Quinn explained that the Engineers without Borders, has established a relationship with the Suma-Ahenkro community and would work to especially improve on education in the area for five years.
Odeneho Dr Kwabena Afram Brempong III, Omanhene of Suma-Ahenkro, explained that he collaborated with Changing Lives Together, another US-based NGO for the community to benefit from the plant.
He thanked for the project stressing that it would go a long way to promote effective teaching and learning of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the school.
Mr Lawrence Kumi Jnr, the National Director of Changing Lives Together Inc said the NGO had also constructed educational and health infrastructure as well as provided potable drinking water on most of the communities in the district.
Mr Kofi Moses Soga, Headmaster of Suma-Ahenkro SHS, noted that because of irregular electricity supply in the school an electronic education centre constructed for the school by MTN telecommunication remains a white elephant.
He attributed the abysmal performance of students in the West African Senior High School Certificate Examination to the intermittent power fluctuations and outages in the community.
Mr Soga said last two years only five per cent of students who sat for the examination qualified for tertiary institution because of the electricity problem.
He said because of lack of funds, construction work on a 12- unit classroom block has been abandoned and mentioned lack of assembly and dining halls as well as kitchen as some of the immediate needs of the school.
The Headmaster expressed appreciation to Odeneho Brempong for his immense contribution towards the development of the school and thanked the donors for the gesture.
Source: GNA