The Church Funds Sanitary Facilities for School Children in Ghana

At two separate hand over events held on 17 December, 2024, school children and residents of two different communities in the Ashanti Region of Ghana received similar donations.  In the first event, three schools and one community in the Juabeng municipality of the Ashanti region received modern toilet facilities and mechanized water systems in a project funded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the second event, held in the Atwima Kwanwoma district of the Ashanti region, schools and community people received a similar donation.  Both donations were provided by WSUP (Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor), a Ghanaian NGO, through the Church’s financial contribution.

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In the Juabeng municipality, recipients of the donation included the Nobewam M/A Basic School, the Adumasa M/A Basic School, the New Koforidua R/C Primary School, and the Boamadumase Township. In the Atwima Kwanwoma district, recipients included the Aburaso Methodist Primary and Junior High Schools.  Both areas are located in a region of Ghana that is challenged with very limited access to sanitary facilities and clean water. Improving those conditions is essential to improving overall health, hygiene, and education outcomes for the area, ultimately impacting their economy and quality of life.  The recent donations provide hope for such improvement.

 A local assemblyman of Nobewam in attendance at the first ceremony, the Honorable Omane George, expressed profound gratitude to the Church for making public health and sanitation a priority. He noted that “most of the infectious diseases caused by bacteria would be reduced because the school children now have a safe, clean and convenient place to respond to nature’s call.”  He advised the school authorities to ensure cleanliness and a higher standard of maintenance.

Echoing similar sentiments, Madam Selina Poku Okae, speaking on behalf of the District Director of Education in the Juabeng district, said “The leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saint are very thoughtful! Indeed they have a clear vision on public health and sanitation. Our children stand to benefit immensely from the donation of the facility.”

The headmistress at the Methodist Junior High School, Mrs. Vida Apenteng, is a member of the Church. She confessed to the attendees in Atwima Kwanwoma:  "I had been praying for help for this school ever since I assumed my role as headmistress and today I am very happy and grateful to the Lord for responding to my prayers."

At the Nobewam event, Brother Samuel Kwame Amoah, Assistant Communication Director of the Church for the Kumasi Coordinating Council who presided at the event, explained that the Church is about helping and taking care of the poor and needy and the vulnerable. He said the Church heeds the admonition of the Lord to visit the sick, feed the poor, clothe the naked, and visit the weary.

Brother Osei Yaw Richard, second counselor in the Kumasi Knust Stake presidency, told attendees at the Atwima Kwanwoma event that "The Lord want us to be our brother’s keeper. We are all supposed to serve one another. Love is what we are supposed to show to one another. The monies for these projects come from members of the Church worldwide. We fast once every month and contribute the cost of two meals into the fast offering fund." He expressed a sincere hope that the authorities of the school would maintain the facility and keep it neat always.

The Honarable Omane Aboagye from the Juabeng District thanked the Church and said that the facilities would contribute to uplift the personal hygiene and public health within these schools. He admonished the authorities of the schools to maintain and protect the facilities, then concluded by saying to the Church representatives there, “We can never thank you enough. You are making a great impact and touching lives in Ghana. The people of Boamadumase are grateful for the mechanized water system provided them.”

The events concluded with a cultural celebration of dancing, followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony at each of the locations.