Agri-Impact Group Limited, an agribusiness firm with extensive experience in agricultural advisory services, agribusiness project development and support for agriculture-related initiatives, has supported two schools in Apeguso in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region with a sickbay and an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre to improve access to basic healthcare and digital learning.
The interventions include the construction of a sickbay for Apeguso Senior High School and the provision of a fully furnished ICT centre with internet connectivity for Apeguso Presbyterian Junior High School.
The facilities are expected to benefit students and members of the surrounding community, particularly in an area where access to healthcare and reliable internet connectivity have been challenging.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of Agri-Impact, Dr Daniel Fahene Acquaye, said the decision to construct the sickbay followed discussions with school authorities on their most pressing needs.
He said the company initially considered providing furniture for the school but decided to support the construction of a health facility after it became clear that the absence of a sickbay posed a greater concern.
“I asked myself, how can you have 900 people put together and there is no health facility to support them,” he said.
Dr Acquaye said access to basic healthcare was essential in schools, particularly where large numbers of students spent most of their time.
He expressed the hope that the sickbay would be completed within a short period and handed over to the school for use.
On the ICT centre, he said the intervention was intended not only to provide computers and internet connectivity but also to equip students with practical digital skills.
He said the company would engage ICT professionals to support students to use the facility effectively for their studies and improve their academic performance.
“We always use the word partnership. It is not just the infrastructure. We will also be bringing people who have skills and knowledge in ICT to support the young people,” he said.
Dr Acquaye disclosed that the company would pay the annual subscription for the internet service to ensure continued access by the beneficiary schools.
He said the connectivity could also benefit residents, especially young people who needed access to educational materials and other online resources.
The initiatives formed part of Agri-Impact’s community support activities and coincided with the fifth anniversary of the death of Dr Acquaye’s late mother, Abrawafia Deaconess Dora Agyarkobea.
As part of the activities, the company also organised free health and eye screening exercises for residents and provided medical checks and medication.
The Makrado of the Akwamu Adonten Traditional Area, Nana Dedey Akwei II, commended the initiative, particularly the provision of internet connectivity to the schools.
He said the facility would help bridge the digital divide between students in rural communities and their counterparts in urban areas.
“Internet connectivity has been a challenge for a lot of us. With this intervention, it is going to boost the community’s activities,” he said.
Nana Akwei II urged the school authorities and community members to ensure proper maintenance and supervision of the facilities to prolong their usefulness.
“Maintenance is everything. We don’t want a situation where within six months or one year you come and see a different story,” he cautioned.
He also appealed to the government, corporate organisations, philanthropists and development partners to support Apeguso Senior High School with additional infrastructure to improve teaching and learning.
Nana Akwei II urged the school and community to use the facilities responsibly and maintain them for the benefit of present and future generations.
By: Daniel Orlando/newsalertgh.com
