Methodist Church of Ghana and partner build SHS for Sakoti Community

Sakoti, (UE) Aug 18, GNA - The Methodist Church of Ghana and its partner, Living Word United Methodist Church in the United States, have built a Senior High/Technical School block for the Sakoti Community in the Upper East Region.

The facility, which is made up of a six unit class room block, an office and a toilet facility, is valued at GH¢ 300,000. It would admit students from the basic school who hitherto to looked for opportunities in distant schools.

The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, at a dedication ceremony held at the School's premises at Sakoti, commended the Methodist Church of Ghana and its partner for building the school.

He stated that when it comes to investment in people, education and health stand tall because they are very crucial tools to any nation's development.

He, however, expressed regret that the three Northern Regions lack behind in these areas.

He explained: “There is a minimum of about 164 years gap between the first school in the South and the first school in the North. For instance, the first Castle School in Ghana was established in 1737 and the first Mission School in 1828, all in Cape Coast in the Central Region. “But in our case, the first Government School was opened in the North 1909, in Tamale.”

He said the intervention of the Methodist Church of Ghana and it partner would complement the Government's efforts at building school infrastructure, particularly, the elimination of schools under trees project.

Mr Woyongo entreated the parents in the in the Region to take advantage of the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) Programme and other educational interventions such as the Capitation Grant, free school uniforms for pupils in deprived communities and the School Feeding Programme so as to close the educational gaps between the North and the South.

He also praised the Church for the drilling of four boreholes for the Sakoti and Yagzore communities and the ongoing extension of electricity to the Bolgatanga Methodist Primary and the Junior High Schools, drilling of two boreholes for the Tambugu and Bawku Circuit and the Nagakenya Community, among others.

He announced that Government had given an approval for the drilling of four boreholes for the Bolgatanga Circuit, including Kasssena-Nankana East and West and Builsa Districts, which would improve upon the wellbeing of the people.

He challenged the beneficiary community and those who would manage the school to take care of the project and ensure that it was constantly maintained to prolong its lifespan.

The District Chief Executive for the Nabdam District Assembly said as a new district the building of the school had come at a good time and promised that the Assembly would furnish it with furniture and support its growth.

The Diocesan Bishop of the Northern Ghana Diocese, the Right Reverend Emmanuel MacLord Afriyie, who jointly performed the dedication ceremony with the Regional Minister said the Methodist Church of Ghana had contributed a lot to socio-economic development of the nation apart from its religious duties and would continue with the process.

GNA