US AMBASSADOR DONATES TO TI AHMADIYYA AT NKAWKAW (Inside Pages)

18/03/2008
Story: Mary Mensah, Nkawkaw
The US Ambassador to Ghana, Ms Pamela Bridgwater, has presented stationery and a cheque for GH¢5,300 to the Nkawkaw T.I. Ahmadiyya School to enable them to complete a three-classroom block under construction.
The presentation forms part of the Ambassadors Special Self-Help programme which encourages projects that promote individual and community empowerment through increased access to education, health, vocational training and sanitation.
Since she took up office in 2005, the ambassador has given over $210,000 to 45 communities throughout the country.
According to the Director of the US Information Service, Chris Hodges, the programme started in 1964 in Togo and was initiated in Ghana in 1990.
The ambassador commended members of the community, especially single mothers, for their self-help spirit and dedication and for naming a new academic resource centre under construction in the school in her honour.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr Joseph Acquah, said the school, established in 1962, had only five classrooms accommodating the KG and primary one to six, together with a population of 338.
He said there was not a single chair and the children sat on the floor or a piece of wood while wawa boards placed on blocks served as tables.
Mr Acquah said in 2003 rainstorm blew off the roof of the primary block, completely destroying three classrooms.
He said the PTA of the school and the Ahmadiyya Mission started the construction of the new classroom and office block and appealed to the ambassador for assistance.