One of Ghana’s leading Oil Marketing Companies (OMC), JP Trustees Limited, has pledged support to the Otumfuo Foundation and its activities, especially toward its educational pursuits.
The Otumfuo Foundation, last week, held the second edition of the Otumfuo Community Reading Challenge (OCRC) to imbibe the spirit of reading in the children within the Ashanti Region.
Speaking to the B&FT at the grand finale of the OCRC at Manhyia, Chief Business Officer of JP Trustees Ltd., Joshua Larbi, said that the Otumfuo Foundation and its activities – such as the OCRC – stand as a good projects, for which reason JP Trustees has decided to join in promoting it.
Given this, JP Trustees has signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with Otumfuo Foundation to support them financially for the next five years.
“We shall provide programme support financing of GH₵2,145,600 to the foundation for the implementation of projects within the agreed thematic areas of education, youth development and decent job creation for the Ashanti Region.
“We commit to donate one pesewa per every litre of fuel sold (GHp1/Litre) at all our stations in the Ashanti Region to the foundation toward the foundation’s objective for education,” Mr. Larbi noted.
He further lauded Otumfuo Foundation for the OCRC initiative, saying it will help build the literacy skills of the pupils.
“At this point in your life, you have two main assets: your time and your attention. Focus these on what matters now: building the right skill set. Your participation in this reading challenge is a big step in the right direction; so keep it up!
“I hereby reaffirm the support of JP to this cause. Our well-founded company would not have reached the heights we have attained if we did not commence with a solid foundation of good literacy skills. We want the next generation to have an even better start, and so we are in this for the long haul,” Mr. Larbi reiterated.
The 2nd edition of OCRC
The OCRC saw 60 pupils from 60 communities in the Ashanti Region compete for the much coveted ‘Best Reader’ in the Ashanti Region. However, five girls were able to make it to the finals after several rounds of competition in the last few months.
At the end of the contest, a 15-year-old Junior High School pupil of the Tafo Pankrono M/A Basic School, Lordina Serwaa Agyapong, emerged the winner of the second edition of the annual Otumfuo Community Reading Challenge (OCRC).
She won with 78.9 percent after a keen contest from four other female contestants – Henrietta Dibar, Melissa Braimah Saeed, Tiwaa Yaa Antwi-Boasiako, and Francisca Boakye Mensah – from the Obuasi, Adum Maakro and Kotei communities.
The winner was given a trophy, a cash prize of GH₵5,000 as well 500 exercise books from Kitty Properties, GH₵2,000 from John Kwame Duodu, and several products from other sponsors. Members of Parliament from the various communities also gave out educational tablets for winners from the 60 communities that participated in the competition.
