The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has pledged to construct a six-unit classroom block for the pupils of Appiatse to aid teaching and learning in the Western Region community ravaged by an explosion last week.
Executive Director of the GNPC Foundation, Dominic Eduah, noted that the aim of the foundation is to impact lives and it is based on that vision, that the foundation is committed to rebuilding schools to replace the ones destroyed by the explosion.
The explosion occurred on Thursday, January 20, 2022, after an accident involving a truck conveying explosive materials for a mining company, crashed into a motorbike that was earlier hit by a speeding vehicle and caught fire.
The huge explosion led to the death of about 13 people, injured dozens and destroyed several houses and structures in the town rendering thousands of people displaced.
But speaking on Angel FM’s Anopa Bofo breakfast show, Mr. Dominic Eduah pledged that the GNPC Foundation would construct a six-unit classroom block for primary one to six pupils and also build another three-unit classroom block for the Junior High School pupils of Appiatse.
He indicated that an assessment had already been done when they visited the community.
According to him, in their interaction with opinion leaders of the community one priority area that was discussed was education.
“Regarding education, it is a national programme and the national calendar would not be halted to wait for the students of Appiatse on account of a disaster so we agreed that GNPC Foundation which is building some 154 schools across the nation would do same for the Appiatse township,” he stated in Twi.
Mr. Eduah also informed the show host, Kofi Adoma Nwanwani, during the interview that, tertiary students who hail from Appiatse would be placed on a GNPC Foundation scholarship to ease their burden of school fees, accommodation and feeding.
Meanwhile, the Ghana National Association Teachers (GNAT) has asked the Ghana Education Service (GES) to assist schools in the adjourning communities of Bogoso-Appiate with counselling following the explosion.
GNAT recommended to the GES to provide “Psychosocial healthcare support to survivors, other workers like teachers, parents, students and notable residents in communities in and around the disaster zone.”
The Executive Director of the Foundation added that the toilet facility of the community which has been damaged was already in a bad shape thus, GNPC Foundation is committed to building a new 12-unit sanitary facility to be sited close to the school for easy access by pupils.
While commending government efforts at returning life in the community back to normalcy, he noted that the foundation is aware that the State Housing Corporation is mobilising to rebuild the homes of the people. On that note, GNPC Foundation is discussing with the State Housing to find a feasible way of fulfilling their promise to Appiatse community.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who led a government delegation to Appiatse earlier promised that “for the houses that have been destroyed, we are already beginning to think about how to rehabilitate and rebuild for the community. I have already spoken to the State Housing Corporation and in consultation with the mining companies here, we will quickly try to put in place facilities that will help those who have been displaced…”
