The Office of the Member of Parliament for Okaiwei South Constituency, Ernest Adomako in collaboration with the Ga Mantse Foundation has launched the Okaikwei South public schools renovation and upgrade project in the Greater Accra Region.
Speaking at the launch, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Mantse commended the Member of Parliament for Okaikwei South, Ernest Adomako, for his commitment to improving public education.
Serving as the chairman of the event, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II emphasized the importance of creating a conducive learning environment for students.
"You are our next generation. You are the future of this country. That is why we are interested in your welfare today," he stated.
He further underscored the significance of investing in education, not only in Okaikwei South but across the country, and praised the MP for spearheading the initiative.
"I am very grateful to the Honourable Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, for supporting this worthy cause initiated by our Member of Parliament, Ernest Adomako,” he stated.
"When you train a girl child, you train a whole nation. When you train a boy child, you train an individual. Today, we want to create the right environment so that these students can learn comfortably, produce good results, and compete both locally and internationally with their peers," he added.
On his part, Okaikwei South MP, Ernest Adomako, emphasized that the project was not just a personal commitment but a critical investment in the future of Okaikwei South.
"For too long, public schools in our constituency have struggled with inadequate facilities and outdated infrastructure that do not inspire our children to dream big. Education is the foundation of development and the greatest investment we can make in our community,” he stated.
"Education is the foundation of development and the greatest investment we can make in our community."
According to Mr. Adomako, the initiative—undertaken in collaboration with the Abdumakudjo Foundation and with support from the Ga Mantse Foundation—will cost an estimated $79.5 million (approximately $5 million equivalent).
The project is set to benefit over 8,000 students and 350 teachers across 20 schools in Okaikwei South.
The first phase of the initiative will focus on Bishop School, financed through the MP’s personal funds and with support from Ga Mantse King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II.
The successful execution of this phase is expected to serve as a model to attract corporate institutions, donor agencies, and local stakeholders to fund the remaining 19 schools.
The Okaikwei South Public Schools Renovation and Upgrade Project will include:
Painting and beautification of school buildings
Fencing school compounds to enhance security and safety
Landscaping and lawn establishment
Replacement of old and broken furniture to ensure students have adequate desks and chairs
Provision of well-equipped libraries and ICT centers to bridge the digital divide
Motivation packages for teachers, recognizing their role in shaping future leaders
"We are not just fixing schools; we are building a brighter and more prosperous future for the next generation of leaders, innovators, and changemakers,” Mr. Adomako emphasized.
Taking his turn, Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, praised the MP’s intervention, noting that a strong relationship exists between a good learning environment and positive academic outcomes.
"You got it very right," he remarked.
"Had this intervention not been initiated, it would have been an indictment on the state and government as to why public schools remain in dilapidated conditions that do not support effective teaching and learning. But I accept this as a wake-up call to invest more in education infrastructure."
He emphasized that the government’s commitment to free education must go beyond accessibility to include investments in infrastructure, textbooks, exercise books, and teacher quality.
He also acknowledged MP Adomako’s commitment to motivating teachers in the constituency, urging the state to prioritize similar efforts nationwide.
During his speech, Haruna Iddrisu outlined several educational reforms that the next John Mahama administration intends to introduce, including:
Reintroducing PTAs (Parent-Teacher Associations) as an essential part of school management to foster collaboration between parents and teachers.
Introducing a National Standardized Test (NST) at P2, P4, P6, and JHS2 to prepare students for major examinations like the BECE and enhance their academic assessment experience.
“We do not want a situation where a child’s first experience in an examination room is during the BECE. The NST will psychologically and academically prepare students for the world of examinations, ensuring better learning outcomes and quality assessment in our schools,” he stated.
The Minister also extended his gratitude to Ga Mantse King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II for his financial support of GHS 100,000 to 10 educational institutions, urging him to continue contributing to the development of Ghana’s education sector.
On behalf of former President John Mahama, he thanked all stakeholders involved in improving education and reiterated the NDC’s commitment to enhancing educational quality and equity across the country.
The launch was attended by the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, traditional leaders, clergy, and schoolchildren, all of whom expressed enthusiasm about the project’s potential to transform public education in the constituency.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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