Akropong School for the Blind receives water, sanitation equipment

Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL), in partnership with WaterAid Ghana (WAG), has inaugurated an integrated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facility for the Akropong School for the Blind.

The provision of the facility formed a component part of a “Water of Life” community investment programme being run by the two bodies. 

The facility was funded by GGBL, the Diageo Foundation as well as monies raised through contributions from the 2013 World Water Day fundraising walk organised by GGBL and WAG. The  WASH facility comprises a complete rain water harvesting system, a 60,000 litre storage tank and disability friendly washrooms fitted with hand-washing equipment. 

At a ceremony to inaugurate the facility, the Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility Manager for GGBL, Mr Richard Ahiagble, said in March 2013, employees of GGBL, WAG and hundreds of Ghanaians signed up to  participate  in a 10km walk in aid of raising funds to provide a WASH facility for the Akropong School for the Blind in commemoration of World Water Day. 

“Today, we are commissioning this WASH project on behalf of all those who contributed and supported this worthy cause.  At GGBL, we have seen at firsthand how WASH facilities contribute to school attendance and academic performance,” he said.

 He said in a recent impact study of the ‘Water of Life’ programme, it was revealed that access to safe potable water and sanitation facilities gave rise to a 93 per cent increase in academic performance of school children in schools where the facility was provided.  

“WASH creates a healthy and congenial environment where pupils can learn and develop. It is our belief that this project will go a long way to create an enabling environment for our visually impaired brothers and sisters,” he added. 

Also on the occasion, pupils and teachers of the school were trained on hygiene and ways of washing hands properly. This led to the formation of a health club in the school to spearhead peer education on personal hygiene in the school.

The Country Representative of WaterAid Ghana, Dr Afia Zakyia, said it was heart-warming to be able to reach children of the Akropong School for the Blind through the partnership with GGBL.  

“WAG is a committed organisation determined to reach people everywhere with safe clean water and instructions on good sanitation practices,” she said. She said the Akropong School for the Blind was selected for the facility based on the two institutions’  beliefs in the principles of equity and inclusion and necessity to reach out to the marginalised in society.  

The District Chief Executive for Akropong-Akuapem, Mr Samuel Opare, and the headteacher of the school, Mrs Mahila, expressed their individual gratitudes to GGBL and WAG for supporting the school and called on other philanthropic institutions to also lend a hand  to prop up the school.