June 5, 2025 was a day of joy and celebration for 400 students at the Aggrey Road Primary School in Tema, Ghana. Thanks to a donation by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, students and teachers are now able to attend classes in a safe environment conducive to learning.
School administrators and Church officials cut the ribbon handing over the renovated classrooms on 5 June, 2025.
School administrators and Church officials cut the ribbon handing over the renovated classrooms on 5 June, 2025.© 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.A severe storm in March of 2024 damaged several of the classrooms at this school for impoverished children. High winds ripped the roofs off the classrooms, and the unrestricted rainwaters caused damage to furniture and materials within the rooms. Additionally, time and neglect had added to the dilapidated condition of some of the buildings.
Because several of the rooms had become unusable, teachers were forced to load up the functioning classrooms with double the number of students for which they had been designed. The crowded environment, along with the unsafe conditions, made learning challenging for students. The school’s appeals for help from the Municipal Assembly went unanswered, so they turned to the Church for help.
Responding to their request, the Church began the renovation by replacing all the roofs, repairing unsafe doors and shutters, and replacing stairs and other concrete structures that were damaged. Additionally, each classroom received overhead fans, and new office furniture replaced what the rain had damaged. Finishing touches included a newly installed water tank, a renovated bathroom, and a fresh coat of paint everywhere.
- Enthusiastic-school-children-throng-the-school-grounds-at-the-hand-over-ceremony-on-5-June,-2025.
- President-Owusu-addresses-the-audience-at-the-hand-over-on-5-June,-2025.
- Students-perform-traditional-dance-during-cultural-celebration-at-hand-over-on-5-June,-2025.
- Students-begin-to-arrive-on-the-grounds-of-the-newly-renovated-school-prior-to-the-hand-over-ceremony-on-5-June-2025.
- Students-seat-themselves-in-front-of-their-renovated-classrooms-waiting-for-the-hand-over-ceremony-to-begin-on-5-June-2025.
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At a handover ceremony celebrating the renovations, school officials praised and thanked the Church for its donation and help in renovating the school. The headmistress, after recounting the devastating storm that ripped off roofs and destroyed classrooms, characterized the resulting scene as heart-breaking, with much of the school rendered unusable. She noted with sincere gratitude that in reaching out to various entities for help, the Church was the first and only one to respond, making contact within 24 hours of the initial inquiry. In their comments at the handover, school officials said about the Church, "Their swift response and selfless commitment have not only restored our buildings, but also reignited hope and strength in our heart. We know this renovation will really go a long way to make teaching and learning very effective. It will help ensure every student has a quality education. Thank you for all you have done. We will never forget."
Sister Sondra Ostler, a senior humanitarian missionary serving with the Welfare and Self Reliance group who helped spearhead this project, explained to those present that the funds for renovating the classrooms come from faithful members of the Church who fast two meals every month and donate the money for those meals to the Church for use in projects such as the one being celebrated.
President Adjei E. Owusu, Stake President of the Ashaiman Ghana Stake who presided at the ceremony, addressed the audience letting them know that the donation was motivated by our desire to be like the Savior Jesus Christ who commanded us to love our neighbors. He continued saying, "It is with gratitude that we come here to hand over this wonderful project that we did for you. Today we are making together a blessing for these wonderful children. May I say this: we appreciate everything you are doing for these wonderful kids. We appreciate each one of you, and we are committed to continuing to help in such projects. On this note, we would also want to extend our gratitude to our Heavenly Father for giving us these resources that we could also share with you."
Following the remarks, officials and dignitaries proceeded to cut a ribbon signifying the formal hand-over of the renovated facilities to school officials. School children then expressed their happiness with a cultural celebration of dance.