The Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly has decided to provide educational facilities to communities that have the required student population of between 60 and 100 children.
The move is to ensure that children in the municipality are not lured into illegal mining prevalent in the area. According to the Assembly, the reliance of boys and girls on illegal mining puts their lives in danger. It is against this backdrop that the Assembly has completed a six-unit classroom block with ancillary facilities each for three communities in the municipality, namely Tetrem, Ahwetieso and Essaman Kakraba at a total cost of GH¢654,585.80.
The Tetrem and Ahwetieso projects, which cost GH¢219,055.40 and GH¢218,530.40 respectively, were financed through the Urban Development Grant, while the Essaman Kakraba building, which cost GH¢217,000, was funded by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETfund).
At the handover of the projects at Tetrem, the Municipal Chief Executive for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Mrs. Christina Kobinah, explained that the classroom blocks were built as part of the Assembly’s medium term plan which focused on enhancing education in the municipality.
She indicated that the construction of teachers’ flats was to ensure that they did not use the lack of accommodation as an excuse to seek transfer to other communities where such facilities were available.
Mrs. Christina Kobinah disclosed that the Assembly had made provision of GH¢50,000 in its 2016 budget to support the municipal health directorate in its public health education programmes. Already she said the Assembly had donated hospital equipment valued at GH¢40,000 to the Tarkwa Banso, Essuoso and Teberebie clinics.
The items included hospital beds, wheelchairs, gloves, blood catheters, sterilizers, weighing scales, breathing circuits and syringes.