By Juliet Aguiar DUGBARTEY, Mampong
The Winslow Foundation in the United States of America (USA) in conjunction with the Nuelson Foundation has cut sod for the construction of a library complex at Mampong, in the Mpohor District of the Western Region of Ghana.
An amount of $2,500 from the Winslow Foundation Board of Directors and some private donors in the USA was presented as seed money, for the commencement of the project, which is expected to be completed by the last quarter of this year.
At a brief ceremony, Dr. Ann Araba Sam, Director of the Winslow Foundation, explained, “Libraries play important role in supporting education, reading and helping the individual, to access information as well as encourage students to form reading clubs among others”.
According to her, education is the only way out of poverty; “education develops problem-solving skills, helps in financial security and allows for self-dependency”.
She explained that the foundation had many requests for support but Mampong Town and another school in the Eastern Region were chosen because of a comprehensive project submitted by Nuelson Foundation of Ghana.
“Together with the Foundation, we are currently working on similar projects in the Eastern Region,” she pointed out.
Dr. Sam said, the Foundation is prepared to collaborate similar foundations in Ghana with clear and good objectives, which have a high sense of alleviating the suffering of people, especially children in deprived towns and villages.
She continued that the Foundation’s main objective is to support children in rural areas, to cultivate their skills. More notably, she mentioned that, “because they are deprived communities, and looking at these children, they need to cultivate the habit of reading to enhance their studies as well as able to compete with other children in the urban areas”.
She mentioned that the Winslow Foundation has been in existence for the past four years and has been supporting the educational needs of some communities in Ghana.
“We have provided books, constructed libraries and stocked them with books, provided funds to support the educational needs of some communities, among others”, she added.
Paul Yereyor, Head teacher of Mampong M/A Basic School added that the library would enhance effective learning.
According to him, education is the gateway to knowledge; “our principal aim as a school, is to teach these children in a manner in which they can learn best and equip them with qualities of good character”.
He advised parents to take care of the needs of their children especially in regards to their education and for them to be focused on their learning.
“I will encourage you students to read more; the more you read, the more you improve upon your vocabulary”, he added.
Nana Kwabena Ofobi, Chief of Mampong who gave the land for the construction of the library, expressed gratitude to Dr. Sam for choosing the town.
“This project will go on smoothly. We will use communal labour to support in the construction of this library in order for work to be completed on schedule”, he said.
Seth Bampong, Assembly Member of Botodwina-Mampong Electoral Area, was also grateful to the Winslow Foundation for the support.
He mentioned that the town has a population of almost 1,500 people, including a student’s population of 300 from the kindergarten to the Junior High School level.
He mentioned that the town has no access to potable water and toilet facility. “This is quite disturbing since most people defecate in the bush. We will appeal to philanthropists and other corporate bodies to support us in this direction”, he added.
In addition, present at the ceremony were; Mr. Emmanuel Dadson and Mr. David Komlagah, President and Director of the Nuelson Foundation. Pastor Joshua Dadzie and Mrs. Nancy Evelyn Sam-Dadzie, both local representatives of the Winslow Foundation.
It is expected that the key outcome of the commencement of this project would serve as input to the educational lives of our children and future leaders.
