The management of the Ashanti School for the Deaf in Jamasi, Sekyere-South District of the Ashanti Region has commended Kosmos Energy Ghana, a leading upstream deepwater exploration and production company for renovating the boys’ dilapidated dormitory.
The 300-bed capacity renovated dormitory would absorb more than 300 male students out of the 318 males, which is about 50 percent of the student population.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Senior Vice President and Head of the Ghana Business Unit at Kosmos Energy Ghana, Joe Mensah, said it is their firm belief that the support will enhance the efforts of the government and the Parents-Teachers Association to create the perfect ambiance for social and academic work.
The facility
The facility has bungalows for both Housemaster and House Mother, bath-house, laundry area, with electrical fixture and fittings, among others. The school currently operates five departments: Kindergarten, Primary, Junior High School, Vocation Unit as well as Blind Unit.
The school was established more than 45 years ago with nine pupils, two teachers, and 12 non-teaching staff. However, currently, the school has a student population of 608 – 290 females and 318 males – and adequately staffed with 62 teachers and 60 non-teaching staff.
“As a good corporate citizen, we are pleased that our resolve to support the special school and that of the Ashanti School will help more than 300 male students of the school and will lead to the stimulation of the desire of the beneficiaries to excel in their education,” he said.
Impacts
Mr. Mensah explained that the move forms part of its corporate response to the lingering effects of COVID-19 and external factors that have had a disproportionately negative impact on the most vulnerable members of society.
“As part of our support, Kosmos Energy Ghana, as a good and committed corporate citizen, is offering humanitarian relief to four state schools for students with special needs in the Northern, Ashanti, Western and Eastern Regions of Ghana,” he said.
For the company’s commitment to the four state schools for students with special needs, he said the Ashanti School for the Deaf is the second of the schools to benefit from its humanitarian relief programme, after Savelugu School for the Deaf last year.
The District Chief Executive of Sekyere-South District, Mrs. Catharine Reckling, in a speech, commended Kosmos Energy for extending their support to the special school.
The oldest building
The Headmistress of the Ashanti School for the Deaf, Mrs. Vida Aidu, said the renovated boys’ dormitory block is one of the oldest buildings which have never seen face-lift and was in a very bad shape until the company stepped in.
“The project by Kosmos Energy has left an indelible mark in Ashanti School for the Deaf by creating the perfect ambiance for the students who now have a decent accommodation,” she said.
Mrs. Aidu said aside from the support from Kosmos Energy, the other challenges of the school include the lack of equipment for the Blind Unit and Vocational Department. “Our students in these two departments require technical tools, such as sewing machines, dress- and shoe-making materials, Kente weaving equipment, Perkis Brilla machine, among others, to enable them function effectively and efficiently,” she emphasised.
More support needed
She, therefore, called on other corporate entities in the region and other parts of the country to emulate the efforts of Kosmos Energy and other organisations which have supported the school to enhance performance to increase their chances of entering the senior high level.
The District Director of Education, Mr. George Adu Abrakwa, said efforts of companies – such as Kosmos Energy – help to ensure improvement in educational infrastructure. “The children need our support and perfect ambiance for their development.
