MODERN KINDERGARTEN BLOCK FOR KPEDZE-TODZE (PAGE 40)

THE Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode has inaugurated a modern kindergarten block for the people of Kpedze-Todze in the Ho Municipality.
The $10, 000 project comprising two rooms and toilets were executed by the community through communal labour with support from 30 student volunteers from the Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada.
In his inaugural address, Mr Amenowode commended the people for being a distinct community and yet embracing the spirit of communal at a time when voluntary spirit seemed to be dying in the region.
He assured them that so long as they had embraced the self-help spirit and were ready to use their hands to build, materials would be readily provided for their community projects.
Mr Amenowode advocated that in the current global economic downturn, the government must review the policy of providing infrastructure to communities through contracts.
He suggested that projects such as furniture, classroom blocks and clinics that could be built by local artisans, could be provided at about a third of the cost on the basis that materials would be provided to the communities to undertake the projects through self-help.
Mr Amenowode urged district assemblies, Members of Parliament (MPs) and the government to encourage communities to be self-reliant by identifying projects that could be executed through communal labour and set up the machinery for providing materials to such communities to help themselves.
The Project Coordinator, Professor Ian Mac Burnie said the project was in line with the realisation that every child had a chance for education in order to build up in life to become productive citizens.
He said irrespective of colour or race, there was the need to work together for the advancement of mankind, adding that under the second phase of the project, one more classroom block, a teachers’ office and playground would be constructed and that funds would be released in September this year.
The Country Director of the Canadian International Development Agency (CID), Mr Michael Gort said the preparedness of volunteers to work in the country underscored the good relationship between the two nations for over 100 years.
He said the kindergarten project would serve as a platform for the pupils to assume higher heights in the future.
In an address, the acting Municipal Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation(NADMO), Mr Henry Ametefe advised communities to construct buildings with sound technology, adding that a maintenance culture should be adopted for all buildings.
He said the organisation would collaborate with all municipal and district assemblies to train artisans and equip them with the relevant skills in construction in order to withstand disasters rather than granting relief to victims in times of disaster.
For his part, the Ho Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Isaac Kodobisa called for emphasis on the provision of structures for children because they needed more attention than those in higher institutions.
The Executive Director of Disaster Volunteers of Ghana (DIVOG), Mr Richard Yinkah said the new building would protect the children from the risks of sunshine and rainfall with the assurance that DIVOG would work towards the provision of good infrastructure for schools in the Volta Region.
The chief of the town, Togbe Okumkah V said the completion of the project was a testimony that his people were industrious and hardworking and commended the student volunteers for also providing school uniforms to the kindergarten pupils.
Sleeping mats, learning materials and a lap top computer were donate to the kindergarten.