By Juliet Aguiar DUGBARTEY
Fiaseman Senior High School (FIASEC) has heaved a sigh of relief after receiving 40,000 litter of Small-Town Water Supply Systems (STWSS) from Gold Fields Ghana Foundation to take care of their daily needs.
The US$17,000.00 project, includes a borehole, has submissible pump installed, filtration system attached, concrete structure, poly tanks and piping to the boys’ and girls’ dormitories as well as the kitchen.
The school, has been struggling with portable water for years as students have to search the communities for water to bath, wash and do other stuff.
Handing over of the project
Abdel Razak Yakubu, Executive Secretary of Gold Fields Ghana Foundation at the handing over of the 40,000 litter of the STWSS at Bankyim, in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region explained that “the headmaster of the school, a couple of years ago approached us to assist in the provision of water.
At that time the Foundation’s scope was so limited that we couldn’t extend support outside our host communities, but due to the dire nature of the situation, we decided to extended the support to FIASEC”.
This, he said is to make water more readily available to the students and to make their lives at campus comfortable.
Today’s occasion he said, also coincides with World Water Day, which is on theme “Glacier Preservation- promoting change through promoting sustainable water resources management”.
“This reminds us that water is a valuable resource that must be preserved for future generations” Mr. Yakubu said.
He called on management of FIASEC to constitute a small committee to see how best they can raise funds to manage the facility.
“We will continue engagement with the ECG to see whether the metering system can be changed from prepaid to postpaid, to make the management a bit easier for the school. We are not going to leave you saddle with a lot of bills. We will ensure that you have at least three months’ supply of units on the meter so that you can use the three months to sort out how you can pay the bills” he added.
Mr. Yakubu appealed to companies operating in the area to support in bringing development to the school.
Headmaster of FIASEC
John Kofi Sagoe, the Head Master of FIASEC pointed out that access to clean and reliable water is not just a necessity, it is a fundamental human right and a critical resource for maintaining hygiene, a good health and academic productivity.
Over the years, he said Fiaseman has faced challenges in securing a sustainable water supply to support the ever-increasing student’s population and operational needs.
“We deeply appreciate this intervention from Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, they have demonstrated an unwavering dedication to the development of the school. This water facility will ensure uninterrupted water supply to support sanitation, cooking and general maintenance of the school” he added.
The Headmaster of the School assured the Foundation that the facility, will be maintained and urged the students and staff to take full responsibility for proper use and preservation of the project.
He mentioned some of the challenges of the school as; place of convenience for the boy’s, staff accommodation, modern science laboratory among others.
“As the school gears up to celebrates its 70th anniversary in October this year, we look forward to continue collaboration in order areas that will uplift education and community development” he said.
GES
Madam Catherine Andoh Mensah, Municipal Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES) said the project has come to relief the students, promote healthy sanitation and enhance learning.
The water project she said, stands as a testament to the Foundation’s unwavering dedication to addressing critical needs of the students.
“When schools have safe water and clean sanitation facilities, students’ learning outcomes improve and attendance rates increase among others” she noted.
“Let us not forget about our past us students, going to fetch water daily outside the school was very tedious. Do not waste water, use bucket to fetch water and use it wisely”, she advised.
She pledged the GES support and culture of maintenance to give the project the life span it ought to be.
Madam Linda Dedoo, Senior Extension Services Specialist-Community Water and Sanitation Agency- Western Region also praised the Foundation for the immense support to institutions in their operational area.
