The students and teaching staff at the Manhean Senior High Technical School in Tema, Ghana, could hardly contain their excitement as they toured the perimeters of their newly refurbished Metal Works Technical workshop. It was yet another empowerment project in the school sponsored by leading African energy conglomerate, Sahara Group.
Founded in 1991, the technical school was established for the purpose of training young Ghanaians to function as world class professionals in the areas of science, technology and innovation by providing a conducive teaching, learning, research & development environment.
Working in concert with other stakeholders, Sahara Group’s intervention has transformed learning experience in the school. The renovation of the workshop included the construction of a shed to accommodate the formerly cramped carpentry and welding students and the purchase of several machines and accessories to enhance their training.
These include: hand powered angle grinder/cutting tool, welding machines, Sun-Flex grinding disc, lathe machines, mounted drilling/milling/grinding machines, welding accessories as well as several electrical and safety gadgets to ensure protection of the students.
The benefitting students who take courses including technical drawing, wood work, building/construction and welding now have ample space and modern tools to aid their training.
Tosin Etomi, Country Manager, Sahara Group, Ghana said, “Our objective was simple. We saw the need for technical education and training in order to produce graduates that can perform competently in their chosen vocations without a need for pre-employment training. We responded to that need. These bright boys and girls will ultimately form part of the talent pool that will drive ongoing transformation in Ghana towards ensuring sustained economic growth and development.”
According to the Head Teacher of the 27 year-old institution, Mr. Emmanuel Kobina Beddu, “This intervention led by Sahara Group has exceeded our expectations. Not only do we have a bigger, better space for learning, we now have the equipment we need to teach our students and arm them with adequate technical and transferable skills. We cannot hide our excitement and satisfaction with what the Sahara Group has done for our school.”
Al-Hassan Ibrahim, a 19 year-old student of the school said: “This is a different experience for us. We finally have a modern looking workshop, facilities and equipment needed to sharpen our skills and become real professionals. Every morning I wake up and I am excited to go to school because I know I will do something new.”
Oluseyi Ojurongbe, Manager, Sahara Foundation added that the workshop upgrade is yet another project Sahara Foundation has carried out in the school, having previously constructed 6- cubicle sanitation facility and upgrade of school building with 7 blocks of class rooms at Manhean Technical School.
Sahara Group has through its corporate responsibility vehicle; Sahara Foundation implemented numerous sustainable projects in Ghana including support for disaster victims in 2016, donation of over 30 hand pump bore holes in Ashanti, Upper West, Greater Accra and Volta regions, 8 mechanised water systems in Ahafo, Adum Keahoma and Asante Akim North District, Upgrade of school infrastructure, provision of sanitation facilities and sponsorship for over 300 cataract, glaucoma and buruli ulcer surgeries.
