Japanese Ambassador Installed Chief In Sang Community After Opening A 6-Unit School Block

H.E. Kaoru Yoshimura

The Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Kaoru Yoshimura, has been installed as a chief in the Sang Traditional Area of the Dagbon Kingdom in the Northern Region.

Now Zo-simli Naa Kaoru Yoshimura, he is expected to promote friendship between the people of the Sang community and the Government and people of Japan. Zo-simli Naa in Dagbani, the language of the Dagomba people means “Friendship Chief” or “Promoter of Friendship”.

H.E. Yoshimura, who was installed shortly after officially opening the newly constructed six-unit classroom block for the St. Anthony Roman Catholic Primary School, said the government of Japan recognises the importance of a conducive environment for quality education.

According to him, the government of Japan is keen to encourage the children of Sang who are the future of Ghana and the world, because it is their fundamental rights to get education in a secured and comfortable school environment.

“The support from the Government and People of Japan is to emphasise the continuous role played by Japan as one of Ghana’s development partners to meet its development targets. Additionally, providing quality education is one of the long-practiced areas of the Japanese Government’s Economic Cooperation Policy in Ghana. Today, this school becomes one of the symbols of Japan-Ghana cooperation in the Education Sector”, H.E. Yoshimura stressed.

The Japanese Ambassador also urged teachers, pupils and the entire Sang community to ensure maximum use of the school and maintain it for unborn generations.

The school which was built by Songtaba, a non-profit organisation with funding support from the Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGHSP) scheme, also has ancillary facilities such as staff common room, a 5-seater toilet facility, a urinal and a headteacher’s office.

According to the Executive Director of Songtaba, Hajia Lamnatu Adam, the construction of the new school edifice was in response to inadequate classrooms that compelled many pupils and teachers to sit under a thatched structure for learning.

The situation, she noted, impeded quality teaching and learning citing low attendance rates particularly during the rainy seasons. “The Government and good people of Japan heard our cry and in March 2016 supported Songtaba with an amount of GH¢317,364.00 (US$83,700) to construct a six-unit classroom block with ancillary facilities.

Hajia Lamnatu Adam

“This facility will provide a congenial atmosphere for learning as well as increase the current enrolment which stands at about 463 pupils” Hajia Lamnatu observed.

Meanwhile, the Coordinating Director of the Mion District Assembly Mr. Sibeko Osman, appealed to the Japanese Embassy to further provide assistance to the people in the areas o0f potable water, agriculture and information communication and technology.  

He said there was currently a severe water problem in the district and as a result, many communities in the area including Sang were sharing dug-outs with livestock which was not hygienic.