Nestlé Ghana, ECOM hands over school facilities to Adarkwa and Akroma communities
As part of Nestlé Ghana’s commitment to improving access to quality education in rural communities, it has handed over two classroom blocks it constructed to the Adarkwa and Akroma communities in the Suhum Municipality of the Eastern Region and the Asikuma Odoben Brakwa Municipality of the Central Region.
The Adarkwa Methodist Primary School project consists of a six-unit classroom block, a toilet facility, a mechanised borehole, a staff common room, and a headmaster’s office.
Similarly, the Asikuma Odoben Brakwa school project includes the same facilities
Nestlé Ghana Ltd, did the project in partnership with ECOM’s Sustainable Management Services (SMS).
Representatives from Nestlé Ghana Ltd and ECOM officially handed over the facility at Adarkwa on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
Notable among the attendees at the ceremony were MD of Nestlé Ghana Ltd, Salomé Azevedo, Managing Director of ECOM, Sudhir Kumar, and the Chief of Adarkwa, Nana Obiri Adjei.
The rest were Chief of Adumasa Manya, Baffour Nadu Tetteh I, Chief of Otswi Number one, Baffour Tawiah, Manya Obusuapanyin, Narteh Solomon Nantey, Suhum Municipal GES Director, Joy Ashitey and Headmaster of Adarkwa Methodist Primary School, Emmanuel Padi.
Speaking at the ceremony at the Adarkwa Methodist Primary School, Nestlé MD, Salomé Azevedo said the projects are aimed at creating safe, inspiring and supportive learning environments for children.
"We hope this facility will provide a safe, inspiring, and supportive environment for teaching and learning for many years to come. I sincerely thank all who made this possible, including our partners, government agencies, community leaders, the school administration, and the chiefs and people of Adarkwa," she said.
According to her, Nestlé commissioned four schools in the Ashanti Region earlier in 2025 and is currently collaborating with ECOM on three additional school projects expected to be completed before the end of the year(2026).
"To the students, this gift is a sign that people believe in you. Study hard, respect your teachers and elders, and never stop believing in yourselves. To the teachers and parents, thank you for the dedication, guidance, and values you continue to give these children every day."
She described the initiative as part of the company’s “Nestlé for Good” commitment to supporting children and communities through education and social development.
"As we hand over this facility today, let us all commit to protecting it and using it well, so that it continues to benefit generations of children to come. On behalf of Nestlé, I reaffirm our commitment to supporting initiatives that help children and communities thrive."
"May this classroom block stand as a symbol of hope, partnership, and opportunity for Adarkwa and beyond," she added.
Strengthening education
The Managing Director of ECOM, Sudhir Kumar emphasized ECOM’s commitment to rural prosperity through sustainable community development, stressing that quality education is the foundation for economic growth, strong communities, and future leadership in Ghana.
He mentioned that investing in education is an investment in Ghana’s future and praised the strong partnership with Nestlé for helping deliver meaningful impact through the school project.
Beyond constructing classrooms, he highlighted the importance of creating a safe and supportive learning environment by providing clean drinking water, toilet facilities, and teaching and learning materials.
Mr Kumar also addressed the persistent issue of child labour, particularly in cocoa-growing communities, stating that children belong in school, not in labour.
He explained that access to safe schools and quality education reduces the likelihood of children being pushed into harmful work, making the project part of the broader solution to child labour.
He expressed gratitude to contractors, engineers, education authorities, community leaders and the people of Adarpua for their support in making the project a reality.
He encouraged teachers, students and the School Management Committee to take ownership of the school, maintain it for future generations, and continue striving for educational excellence.
Transforming education
In her address, Suhum Municipal GES Director, Joy Ashitey described the inauguration of the new school block at Adakwa Methodist Primary School as a joyful and significant moment for the education directorate, teachers, learners, and the entire Adakwa community.
She expressed profound gratitude to Nestlé and ECOM’s Sustainable Management Services (SMS) for supporting the construction of the facility, noting that the project arrived at a crucial time when inadequate classroom infrastructure remains a major challenge affecting quality education delivery in the Suhum Municipality.
"These facilities have come at an opportune moment. The difficulties of teachers and learners wondering about searching for a decent place for learning is now a thing of the past."
"In fact, one major factor that is threatening effective and quality education delivery in the Suhum Municipality is inadequate classroom blocks at all levels of learning. Hence, the gratification to see this facility which will undoubtedly go a long way to enhance learning outcome in the Adakwa community and the Suhum Municipality in general," she said.
Madam Ashitey highlighted that the new school block would greatly improve teaching and learning conditions by ending the struggles of teachers and students searching for suitable learning spaces.
She also commended the contractors for delivering excellent work and urged community members, teachers, and students to properly maintain the facility to preserve its quality for many years.
