SOS to construct a three million dollar Village in Kumasi
The SOS Children's Villages, Ghana, an International Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), on Friday laid a foundational stone to begin the construction of a third village in Kumasi, at the cost of three million US dollars.
The Village, which is expected to be completed within two years, would consist of 12 Family houses, Kindergarten, Primary and Junior High Schools as well as Social and Medical Centres.
Mr Kojo Mattah, National Director of SOS, made these known at Asokore Mampong in Kumasi at the official Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony.
He noted that, the NGO, which was founded by the late Professor Hermann Gmeiner in 1974 and live on donations, provides for abandoned and destitute children with safe, stable homes and loving families, adding that, it has two villages at Tema and Asiakwa.
Mr Mattah said over 500 children had found a second home in the SOS villages whilst thousands more had benefited for improved educational opportunities in the SOS Hermann Gmeiner Schools.
The National Director said the village, which would extend its services to Kumasi and its environs, would also house about 120 children out of 200, who would live with stable families.
“In addition over 400 children would be selected for support under the family Strengthening Programme”, he stressed.
He emphasised that to ensure that caregivers and foster parents take good care of those children, GH¢60,000 has been disbursed to the already existing parents to expand their businesses, and praised the group's good services to such children in the Kumasi village.
Professor Helmut Kutin, President, SOS Kinderdorf International (KDI), in an address, urged the contractors, CONSAR Construction Limited and other facilitators to make good use of the materials provided for the village.
He appealed to them to work harder and faster to enable them finish on time to shelter the number of children rendered homeless due to internal migration, unemployment, poverty among others.
Dr. Mrs Margaret Nkrumah, SOS KDI Representative, called on the community to support the project, saying, they should regard the children from the home as their own and help raise them to become useful in the society.
Oheneba Adusei Poku, Akyimpemhene in Kumasi, and representative of Otumfuo, the Asantehene, who was the guest of honour, thanked the benefactors for their efforts and encouraged all to emulate them.
He said the project was in line with that of the Asantehene. who has set up an educational fund of which 5,000 students nation-wide from Primary to Tertiary levels had been sponsored with an amount of GH¢340,000,000.
“Otumfuo shares your vision and is ready to support since the Ashanti Region must be at par with the others in terms of education”, he said.
The Chairman for the occasion, Nana Boakye Ansah Debrah, Chief of Asokore Mampong, appealed to all well meaning Ghanaians to give a helping hand to ensure the success of the programme.
He also called on the government to help establish a Police Depot in the area.