Chinese community in Ghana supports people of Juaso
The General Secretary of the Ghana Association of Chinese Societies, Mr Stephen Shum, said education is the most powerful tool a country can use to change the standard of living of its citizens, communities and the country as a whole.
He said it was very essential to invest heavily in the education of the youth from the early ages as that was the right way to ensure the future development of the country.
Mr Shum made the statement at the handing over ceremony of the renovated Mariam Thompson Pre-School building at Juaso, a community in Fanteakwa South District.
The facility is managed by the Student and Youth Travel Organization (SYTO), a non-governmental organization, and the renovation was supported by the Ghana Association of Chinese Societies, the Ghana Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Kibi Goldfields Limited.
He said the provision of quality education was capital intensive and despite the human resources governments invested into education, the rehabilitation, upgrading and expansion of facilities also involved much.
He therefore called for the need for public spirited persons and organizations to join efforts with government and local assemblies to provide quality education for the teeming youth.
Mrs Mercy Lartiokor Djanie, General Manager of Students and Youth Travel Organization (SYTO), said her outfit’s vision for the school was to train the young children to be environmentally friendly, so that growing up they would assist in the protection of the natural vegetation of the Juaso community and its environs.
She said through quality education, such knowledge could be imparted unto young ones at the early stage so that they can appreciate nature and understand the benefits of the environment.
The Assistant Director in Charge of Supervision at the Fanteakwa Education Directorate, Mr Adu Ameyaw said most schools in the district were faced with situations where both the Junior High and Primary School buildings were in good shape.
However many pre-school buildings in the District were either under trees or in a dilapidated structure.
The Public Relations Officer of Kibi Goldfields Limited, Mr Richard Fordjour, said his outfit intended to support schools with infrastructure and give scholarships to brilliant students from the community for their tertiary education.
He said his outfit will continue to engage with the schools in its catchment areas to identify various challenges facing them and help them solve the problems.
The Headmaster of the School, Mr Emmanuel Kwabena Amponsah, said currently the School has a total population of 75 pre-school children.
He said the rehabilitation exercise will help to increase the enrolment, since it was the only pre-school in the community and will also help solve the plight of members of the community in commuting long distances to nearby communities to access pre-school education.
As part of the ceremony, a nine member Chinese medical team lead by Liu Cheng Long undertook medical screening exercise for the community members.
Residents were screened for their eyes, blood pressure, heart function and other related health issues.
Source: GNA