Accra: Nestl© Ghana Limited, in collaboration with ECOM Ghana Limited, a cocoa buying company, has handed over a six-unit classroom block to the authorities of Adarkwa Methodist Primary School in the Suhum Municipality of the Eastern Region: The facility, which includes office space, a storeroom, toilet facilities, and access to portable drinking water, is expected to improve teaching and learning in the cocoa-growing community.
According to Ghana News Agency, the project was undertaken to replace the school's old dilapidated structure, which had served the community for about 90 years and had become unfit for academic work. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Nana Obiri Agyei, who chaired the programme, expressed gratitude to Nestl© Ghana and ECOM Ghana for the intervention. He said the poor condition of the former classroom block had compelled many parents to withdraw their children from the school and enrol them elsewhere. Nana Agyei commended the teachers for their dedication to duty and urged parents to continue supporting their children's education by providing their educational needs.
Mr Sudhir Kumar, the Country Head of ECOM Ghana, described the project as an important investment in rural prosperity and education. He noted that inadequate access to proper educational facilities also increased the risk of child labour in cocoa-growing communities. Mr Kumar emphasized that beyond constructing the classroom block, the project also provided clean drinking water, toilet facilities, and teaching and learning materials to create a safe and supportive environment for the pupils.
Madam Salome Azevedo, Managing Director of Nestl© Ghana Limited, stated that the facility would inspire hope and create greater opportunities for children in the Adarkwa community. She added that classrooms should provide a clean, safe, organised, and comfortable environment that supported effective teaching and learning. Madam Azevedo said the company had already handed over four schools in the Ashanti Region in 2025 and was commissioning two additional schools at Adarkwa and Akroma in the Central Region.
Mr Emmanuel Padi, Headteacher of Adarkwa Methodist KG and Primary School, described the project as a dream come true for the community. He expressed optimism that the new infrastructure would improve enrolment, academic performance, and the overall welfare of teachers and pupils. However, he appealed for additional support in the areas of a computer laboratory, teachers' bungalow, school canteen, library, and sports facilities.
Madam Joyce Ashitey, representative of the Suhum Municipal Director of the Ghana Education Service, commended Nestl© and ECOM Ghana for their commitment to educational development in the municipality. She expressed confidence that the new facility would improve learning outcomes in the Adarkwa Community and urged both teachers and pupils to maintain the facility properly to prolong its lifespan and preserve its current state for many years.