On 3 October 2023, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints presented a donation of two boreholes and two storage tanks to the Saint Francis Senior Technical High School in Akim Oda, Ghana. A donation ceremony was held at the school with leaders of the Church and local educational leaders participating with the students to celebrate the much-needed new water supply.
Saint Francis has 2443 students enrolled and over 90% of them are boarded on campus. School officials recognized the need for new water sources when students, particularly the girl students, had to spend a significant amount of time bringing water from off-campus to meet their basic needs. They contacted the Church and construction on the new boreholes began. “Our prayers have been answered,” said Clement Owusu Sekyere, PTA President. “The Church has brought us water.”
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Boreholes are narrow, vertical shafts, bored into the earth to access clean water. Each mechanized borehole can provide the school with 10,000 liters of clean water each day. Each borehole included a 5000-liter holding tank. The Church of Jesus Christ worked with a local contractor to construct the boreholes on campus, one near both the boys’ and girls’ dormitories.
“Water has always been a challenge at the school,” said Joseph Kodjo Nomo, Headmaster at Saint Francis Senior Technical High School. “We depend on boreholes and without them our students must leave campus to look for water. This is such a timely intervention. The Church saw our need and met that need.”
Akim-Oda
Borehole and Storage Tank, Saint Francis Senior High Technical School, Akim Oda, Ghana. 3 October 20232023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Esther Sowah, the Director of Education for the Birim Central Municipal District, also attended the donation ceremony. “Water is life, and clean and safe water is a necessity,” she said in her remarks. “This donation not only ensures that this is available to our students but creates a healthy environment for learning. We promise to teach our students the importance of water conservation and the need of proper care and maintenance for this equipment.”
Representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was President Solomon Tenadu, of the Asamankese Ghana Stake. “The funds to pay for the boreholes and tanks are sacred. They come from members of the Church who have followed the Savior's counsel to show love for their fellow man. They donate what they can to provide for those in need,” said President Tenadu. He told the students that, “What has happened today is because someone chose to obey the Savior's council. We urge you to do the same. Care for each other, look after the needs of your fellow students. If you do that you will honor those who donated.”
The Headmaster and Director of Education ensured the gathering that maintenance programs would be put in place to ensure the longevity of the equipment. Boreholes that are well maintained can provide clean water for 20+ years, positively affecting students from coming generations. When installing the mechanized boreholes, The Church of Jesus Christ provided training on maintenance and repair to school personnel.
The facilities were awarded on contract with SED Investment International. Divine Kwasitse, the Managing Director said the potable water is an automated system that prevents human interference in the operation of the system.
He said " anytime such facility is provided you need to certify the water so the water sample has been sent to the Water Research Institute, a division under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the water is certified as quality water."