The Ketu North Municipal Assembly in the Volta Region has cut the sod for the construction of a six-unit classroom block at the Law Memorial E.P. Basic School in Tadzewu.
The project is expeceted to improve teaching and learning conditions in the community.
The project will see the school provided with a modern facility comprising six classrooms, an office, a store, a library and a toilet block to address overcrowding and infrastructure challenges.
Speaking at the event, Mr James Gunu, the Volta Regional Minister, said the government’s commitment to education infrastructure development in the region was evident in the progress made within the first year of the new administration.
He disclosed that about 54 classroom blocks were currently at various stages of completion across the Volta Region, adding that the President’s directive was to ensure that only competent and capable contractors were awarded projects to guarantee quality and timely delivery.
Mr Gunu stressed the importance of regular monitoring, supervision and site meetings to track progress, identify challenges and prevent projects from stalling.
He called for collaboration among stakeholders to ensure transparency and accountability, noting that the government’s development agenda required “all hands-on deck.”
“President Mahama and the NDC government are in for the people and for development, and we need collective support to achieve our goals,” he said.
Rev Martin Amenaki, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ketu North, said the Law Memorial E.P. Basic School was recently absorbed into the public school system, but lacked the necessary infrastructure to function effectively.
He explained that after consultations with the Member of Parliament and education authorities, the Assembly decided to provide the school with a six-unit classroom block as part of the government’s Reset Agenda.
Rev Amenaki said an assessment of the school revealed that teachers and pupils were compelled to combine two to three classes in a single room, creating an unconducive learning environment.
He announced that the contractor had been given a six-month timeframe to complete the project.
He appealed to the community and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church to take ownership of the project by helping to safeguard the site and encourage the contractor and workers to deliver quality work.
Mr Eric Edem Agbana, the Member of Parliament for Ketu North, commended the Evangelical Presbyterian Church for establishing both the church and the school in Tadzewu, describing it as a demonstration that development was a shared responsibility involving government, religious bodies and the community.
He noted that the lack of infrastructure had previously forced many parents to send their children to schools in neighbouring towns, exposing them to safety risks and long walking distances.
Mr Agbana recalled that during the 2024 election campaign, the community’s key request was for the government to provide infrastructure after absorbing the school, a promise he said was now being fulfilled following the release of the District Assemblies Common Fund.
He urged residents to maintain the facility upon completion to attract more pupils back to the school and pave the way for additional infrastructure development.
Mr Gerhard Avudzivi, the Municipal Director of Education, said the project reflected a collective commitment to improving access to quality education and providing a safe, learner-friendly environment for children in the area.
He said the new facility would help reduce overcrowding, enhance effective teaching and learning, and promote academic excellence.
Mr Avudzivi expressed appreciation to the government, the Municipal Assembly, the MP, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, traditional authorities and other stakeholders for their support, and appealed to the community to protect the project throughout the construction period and beyond.
He encouraged teachers and pupils to remain committed to their duties as they looked forward to the completion of the facility for the benefit of present and future generations.
GNA
