ActionAid Ghana has handed over five mechanised boreholes and five urinal facilities to five public basic schools in the Northern Region, as part of efforts to improve access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in educational institutions.
The beneficiary schools included Kalariga Saqafat Islamic Primary School, Kpanvo Islamic Primary School in the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly and Kulnyevila Primary School, Dimala Zion Primary school and Gbarima M /A Primary School in the Sagnarigu Municipal Assembly.
The facilities, which were handed over during a brief ceremony, are expected to benefit hundreds of school children by providing clean drinking water and improved sanitation infrastructure.
This intervention forms part of ActionAid’s broader commitment to give back to schools located in the region with the ultimate aim of promoting children’s health and well-being.
Mrs Beatrice Yanman, Office Representative, speaking on behalf of the Northern Regional Programme Manager of ActionAid Ghana, Madam Esther Boateng, emphasisied the essence of proper hygiene and sanitation in schools.
She highlighted the lack of adequate water supply and sanitation facilities in many basic schools and urged school authorities to ensure these amenities are well-maintained and utilised effectively.
She further stated that the importance of sanitation in the development of every child however, cannot be downplayed.
‘’Good health and environmental sanitation in schools and institutions of higher learning could only be achieved if schools have access to adequate toilet facilities and drinkable water at 87.7 per cent and 77.7 per cent respectively,’’ she noted.
According to her, most basic schools in Ghana do not have basic sanitation facilities: ‘’ and situations where they exist, they are either not functional, do not have separated facilities for boys and girls or are not near the school premises.’’
‘’As a result, teenage girls in such schools miss up to four days of classes each month during their menstrual periods. This situation contravenes the 1992 constitution of Ghana, which guarantees the right to education for all. It is also deemed a violation of the girls’ right to education, effectively excluding them from full participation in school.
“Clean water and good sanitation are essential to the health of our children and their ability to stay in school. We urge school management to take full responsibility for the upkeep of these facilities,” she stressed.
She also noted that the provision of boreholes and urinal facilities forms part of ActionAid’s efforts to curb absenteeism, especially among girls, who are disproportionately affected by poor sanitation in schools.
Alhaji Mahamadu Issahaka, the Circuit Director of Education for Dabokpa, applauded ActionAid for its continued support in addressing sanitation challenges in schools in the region.
“This support will go a long way to improve the overall school environment. We commend ActionAid for consistently supporting educational development in the region,” he siad.
The Chief of Kalariga, Abdul Rahaman Zakaria, also expressed appreciation to ActionAid on behalf of the local community for the kind gesture.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of RMU, Dr Jethro W. Brooks Jr., expressed deep appreciation for MODEC’s continued partnership and support.
“Our longstanding relationship with MODEC is built on shared values of excellence, innovation, and capacity-building. This partnership exemplifies how industry and academia can collaborate to empower the next generation of maritime professionals,” he mentioned.
Dr Brooks described Handler 2 as an essential tool in maritime education, underscoring its role in developing practical seamanship skills such as mooring, anchoring, line handling and navigation.
“Students will gain hands-on experience in vessel operation, engine and propulsion systems, and emergency drills,” he noted.
“This aligns with the IMO’s Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW), which requires practical safety training that workboats deliver effectively,” he added.
He assured stakeholders that Handler 2 will be fully integrated into RMU’s academic and training programmes, offering students immersive, real-world maritime experience.
MODEC Managing Director, Mr Theophilus Ahwireng, emphasised that the donation is a long-term investment in maritime education and offshore capabilities for Ghana and the wider West African region.
He revealed that MODEC and its partners have invested over $2.3 million in RMU projects, including a state-of-the-art Welding Training Centre developed in collaboration with Tullow Oil at a cost of $1.8 million.
“We urge all users of the workboat to be diligent stewards of this valuable resource,” Mr Ahwireng indicated, while commending RMU’s leadership for upholding international standards and fostering impactful collaborations.