Pepease: The Pepease Presbyterian Basic School has received a new Creative Arts Centre and a collection of musical instruments aimed at enhancing its music education program to nurture students' musical talents.
According to Ghana News Agency, Ms Kendall Ficken, an alumna of the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business in the United States, constructed and inaugurated the Creative Arts Centre for the school. Situated in the Kwahu East District of the Eastern Region, the facility is expected to advance creative arts education, with a focus on music, among students in the area. Ms Ficken also contributed musical instruments, such as violins, trumpets, brass band instruments, a piano, and an organ, to facilitate practical music training.
The project is designed to foster students' creative skills and offer them opportunities to develop their musical capabilities in a supportive learning environment. Reverend Emmanuel Kwame Kwakye, the Pepease-Kwahu District Minister of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, and Rev. Kennedy Twum-Barimah, the Obo District Minister, dedicated the facility on behalf of Rev. Joshua Bossman Ohene, the Chairperson of the Kwahu Presbytery.
During a virtual address at the commissioning ceremony, Ms Ficken shared that her passion for music started at age five when she learned to play the violin. She noted that this experience instilled values such as discipline, perseverance, teamwork, confidence, and excellence. Ms Ficken explained that her introduction to the Pepease Presbyterian School came through her friendship with Mr David Ntim and that she was motivated to support the community after discovering the students' eagerness to use music to honor God, despite facing limited resources.
Ms Ficken emphasized that music transcends entertainment, serving as a tool for education, personal growth, and community building throughout her life. She recounted her participation in a competitive youth orchestra program at Carnegie Hall in New York, where she realized the importance of collective achievement over personal recognition. This experience inspired her vision of establishing a music program at the Pepease Presbyterian Basic School, providing students with instruments, learning materials, and a dedicated creative space.
The project materialized with the support of her family, the Ntim family, Christ Lutheran Church of Charlotte, and other partners who facilitated the transportation of musical instruments from the United States to Ghana. Ms Ficken described the centre as a representation of faith, generosity, and collaboration, encouraging students to embrace learning with curiosity, patience, and determination. She reminded them that every accomplished musician starts with a single note and progresses through consistent practice. Ms Ficken also urged students to appreciate teamwork, highlighting that each instrument has its unique voice but achieves the best results when played together.
Dr William Ofori Ntim, an Associate Professor of Medicine in the United States and a native of Pepease-Kwahu, stated that the centre would act as a hub for music education, enabling students to discover and develop their talents. Mrs Millicent Owusu Kwakye, the Headteacher of the Presbyterian Basic School, expressed her gratitude to Ms Ficken, the Music for Ghana partners, and donors for their support in realizing the project.