Federated Commodities Limited (FEDCO), a licensed cocoa buying company, in partnership with Fonds Solidaire Valrhona, has handed over a classroom block to Pieso Junior High School in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality of the Western Region.
The classroom block includes a headteacher’s office, an Information Communication and Technology (ICT) centre furnished with desktop computers, a printer and a photocopier as well as a toilet facility and water system, totalling GH¢900,000.
Maria Adamu-Zibo, Managing Director of FEDCO, speaking at the handing over of the facility at Pieso, noted that her outfit sees education as very important to the development of the country.
“When we started buying cocoa from this area, we realised the kindergarten and primary school were in a deplorable state; so, we renovated them and then later saw that the JHS was not fully constructed. We further decided to build a new block for them,” she explained.
According to her, these facilities are to encourage the students to take their studies seriously as well as motivate teachers to give off their best.
“There are other communities that we have constructed classroom blocks and we have seen increase in enrolment because both parents and children were attracted by the new facility. We are here to make a difference in the lives of these children, and we hope the ICT centre will effectively promote the culture of learning since some of them might have heard about computer but have not seen one,” Mrs. Adamu-Zibo added.
She, however, pointed out that the GH¢900,000 investment is too huge, and urged the school’s authorities, community leaders and Ghana Education Service to ensure regular maintenance of the facility.
Cedric Robin, Cocoa Sourcer of Fonds Solidaire Valrhona, reiterated the company’s commitment to ensuring that education becomes paramount in the towns that Valrhona buys cocoa beans from, adding: “This is the only legacy we can bequeath them”.
He said since 2015, the company has been supporting schools within the municipality. It has also provided cocoa farmers with farming inputs as well as annual premium payments.
“Our relationship with cocoa farming communities has been awesome and this is going to continue to ensure development in this municipality,” he said.
For his part, Sebastian Atrama Diaw, Prestea Huni-Valley Director of Education, expressed gratitude to FEDCO and its partner for their continued support to the people of the municipality, especially in the supply of text books and infrastructure.
He, meanwhile, appealed to FEDCO to assist the community with a teachers’ bungalow as most of the teachers do not stay within town. “Most of them accept postings to this area but leave as soon as they get to know the conditions here, particularly the difficulty in getting a decent accommodation and means of transport to school or work.”
He also urged the management of the school to ensure proper maintenance of the facility.
Charles Amenyaglo, Director of Special Services at COCOBOD, stated that education is very dear to COCOBOD and the country. This, he added, explains why COCOBOD, FEDCO, Valrhona Foundation and other partners have continually provided support to the sector.
Nana Kwamina Badu, Chief of Pieso, praised FEDCO and its partners for the gesture and urged the Parent-Teacher Association of the school to ensure proper maintenance of the school.
Eric Kuma Letcher, Headmaster of Pieso JHS, expressed gratitude to FEDCO and Valrhona for the new facility and promised to ensure regular maintenance.
