The Headmaster of the D/A JHS, Manso Adubia, Seth Amissah (Left) receiving the library items from the Director of the Ghana Book Trust, Madam Genevieve Eba-Polley.

Asanko Mines stocks libraries of schools in Amansie West, Amansie South

Daniel Kenu Education Mar - 25 - 2021 , 14:28 2 minutes read

Mining firm, Asanko Gold Ghana Limited, has stocked the libraries of a number of first cycle schools in the Amansie South and Amansie West districts of the Ashanti region with furniture and assorted reading materials to promote enhanced literacy.

Some 18 schools within the catchment area also received assorted materials under its literacy programme being executed together with the Canadian Organisation for Development through Education (CODE) and the Ghana Book Trust.

The six years partnership programme which was initiated in October 2016, has already benefitted 32 schools in the two districts.

A total of 8,800 books, pens and other accessories were also shared to all the 44 schools in the areas.

"This project is being executed in direct response to low literacy levels among some of our students which is the result of very many causative factors," the General Manager of Asanko, Mr Eben Swanepoel, said through the Sustainability Manager, Mr Rammy Oboro, at the presentation ceremony on Thursday.

He said the partnership has provided high-quality, culturally reflective and literacy level appropriate reading materials for schools in it's catchment area.

"This goal is to have future generations of literate young people who will be critical thinkers, earn good livelihoods and contribute effectively towards development of our communities," Mr Swanepoel said.

COVID-19

In addition to the materials, the partners of Asanko Gold, also donated COVID-19 preventive items to all beneficiary schools of the project.

Each student was presented with two washable nosemasks while the girls in addition to the nosemasks also received a number of sanitary pads.

Ghana Book Trust

The Director of Ghana Book Trust, Genevieve Eba-Polley, said since the project started, there has been a significant improvement in the communication skills of the students which was gradually impacting on their BECE results.

She said the figures were not readily available but on the face of it, there has been a major jump in the results of the students and for the first time in many years, the children have gained admission to some of the best schools in the region.