Gowrie (U/E)-Ghana, June 28, GNA – The staff and pupils of the Gowrie D/A Primary and Junior High Schools in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region have expressed appreciation to A-ensonga Hearts, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and the Franciscan Mission Association in the United States of America for constructing a borehole for them.
The pupils sang songs of praise to their benefactors for the gesture, which they said would solve the water crisis in the school and surrounding communities.
Mr Samuel Abeebase Nsobila, the Headteacher of the Gowrie D/A Primary School, who spoke in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after the borehole was commissioned by Ms Kenndicta A-ensonga Ajene, the Founder and Executive Director of the NGO, said,”We are very grateful to the NGO and its founder.
“Access to water has been a major challenge to both schools. Although we have pipelines, the water flow is very erratic. It flows once or twice a month. We suffer to get water, pupils walk about 1.5 kilometres to get water and return to school. It affects contact hours a lot, some pupils even go in search of water and do not return.
“We are happy today that we have a borehole right on our compound. Pupils can easily get water to drink and return to their classrooms. We are very grateful. We pray for God’s blessings for A-ensonga Hearts and the Franciscan Mission Association,” he said.
Mr Nsobila said the school had insufficient furniture which compelled some pupils to sit on the floor to learn, coupled with broken doors and windows, and used the occasion to appeal for more support to the school.
The Chairman of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of the Primary School, Mr Thomas Abaase, who corroborated the water challenges of the schools as indicated by the Headteacher, said management of the Primary School and leadership of the PTA had over the years applied to several organizations for help but to no avail.
“Today, we are fortunate to have A-ensonga Hearts to construct this borehole for us. We are very grateful. In fact, we will never forget this kind gesture,” the PTA Chairman said.
Speaking on the details of the borehole, the Executive Director of the NGO, told the GNA that it was constructed at an estimated value of GH₵20,000.00 with funding from the Franciscan Mission Association in Atlanta, USA.
“This is a need for them, it came just when they needed it, and I am glad that they have had it timely. It is my hope that it would be used well and properly maintained to serve generations,” the Founder and Executive Director said.
Ms Ajene thanked the Franciscan Mission Association, both in the USA and Ghana, and the A-ensonga Hearts team for the collaborative efforts over the years and urged them to continue to work together “To touch the hearts of little ones.”
