Ja Rule: American rapper inaugurates classroom block in Nuaso
Pencils of Promise (PoP), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) focused on increasing access to quality education, has completed a six-unit classroom block with auxiliary facilities at St John’s Anglican Basic School in Nuaso in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The project, funded by American rapper, Jeffrey Atkins, aka Ja Rule, seeks to support the government and local initiatives to empower young people by providing them with quality education and better opportunities for the future.
The completion of the classroom block comes nearly a year after the sod-cutting ceremony, marking a significant step in the organisation’s efforts to enhance educational infrastructure in underserved communities.
The absence of adequate facilities at the Nuaso Anglican Primary School severely disrupted teaching and learning, forcing pupils and teachers to endure harsh conditions, including exposure to the elements of the weather after their old classroom block was destroyed by heavy rainstorms.
The lack of sufficient classrooms led to the implementation of a shift system, which negatively impacted learners’ education by reducing contact hours, fostering absenteeism, and contributing to low enrolment rates.
However, with the completion of the new six-unit classroom block, these challenges are expected to become a thing of the past, ushering in a new era of stability and improved educational outcomes for the school and the community at large.
Before the inauguration ceremony held on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, the delegation in the early hours of the day paid a courtesy call on the Konor of Manya Krobo and President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, Nene Sakite II.
Contributions
The Country Director of PoP, Freeman Gobah, highlighted the organisation’s 13-year commitment to improving education in Ghana, having constructed 296 classroom blocks across the Volta, Oti and Eastern regions. Beyond infrastructure, he stated that PoP had supported 2,900 teachers with training and resources, benefiting about 60,000 learners.
The organisation, he said, had also distributed over 10,000 electronic devices loaded with educational materials and enhanced 140 schools with water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programmes, including water filters, hygiene education and menstrual health initiatives.
Mr Gobah, therefore, urged the government to grant tax waivers on essential learning materials and encouraged students to make the most of the new facilities, reaffirming PoP’s dedication to expanding access to quality education in the country.
More projects
During his address, Ja Rule expressed his gratitude to Pencils of Promise and all those who contributed to making the project a reality, describing the completion of the six-unit classroom block as a testament to his career and a fulfilment of his commitment to giving back.
He emphasised that the initiative was about investing in the future of children and ensuring they had the resources to pursue their dreams.
Announcing his plans to expand his contributions, he revealed his intention to build a gym facility to promote sports, as well as a dedicated space for music, dance and film, providing students with opportunities beyond the classroom.
Bedrock of development
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Lower Manya Krobo Constituency, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, emphasised the critical role of education in national development, noting that quality education was the foundation for personal growth and economic progress.
“In a middle-income country, education and economic growth are complementary. Quality education is, therefore, not only the bedrock of development of the country but an important gateway, opportunity, human and personal development,” he said.
Mr Terlabi, who is also the Deputy Minister for the Interior, further highlighted the government’s commitment to comprehensively reform the educational system by expanding infrastructure, improving teacher welfare and increasing investments in the sector.
