The CEO of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Opoku Ahweneeh-Danquah, has embarked on a week-long tour to consolidate sustainable Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies within the corporation’s business model. The tour aims to commission several completed infrastructure projects across five regions of Ghana, namely Central, Ashanti, Bono, Eastern, and Greater Accra. This initiative highlights the commitment of the GNPC to prioritize social development and community welfare alongside its core operations.
Kicking off the tour in the Central Region, the GNPC, through its CSR arm, the GNPC Foundation, has handed over six completed projects to beneficiary schools and communities in the region. These projects represent significant contributions toward addressing challenges faced by these communities.
At the Ghana National College in Cape Coast, the GNPC Foundation handed over keys to two sanitary facilities. The facilities were donated to help alleviate the school’s hygiene and sanitation challenges caused by inadequate infrastructure. The school’s current toilet facility was stretched beyond capacity due to the high number of students it serves. Joseph Ato Sarpong, the Headmaster of the school, expressed his appreciation and gratitude to GNPC for its support, emphasizing that the donation was timely, coinciding with the school’s 75th-anniversary celebration.
In Ekumfi Abor, the community received keys to a new 12-unit sanitary facility to combat the long-standing issue of open defecation and the associated health problems. Nana Edumadze Forson, speaking on behalf of the Chief, extended gratitude to GNPC for their support and assured that the facility would be put to good use. Dominic Kwame Nyame, the Assembly Member for the Abor electoral area, emphasized that the project would provide numerous community members without suitable toilet facilities the opportunity to access a more humane structure, thereby curbing unhealthy and indiscriminate practices that pose significant health risks.
Continuing the tour at Besease Senior High School in Ajumako, the GNPC Foundation handed over a five-chamber Science Laboratory with an ICT Centre. The facility aims to enhance effective teaching and learning at the school. Francis Afari-Sackey, the Headmaster of the school, commended GNPC for its reliability and foresight in investing in schools and Ghana’s future. He emphasized that the laboratory would improve the quality of education by providing practical opportunities for students.
Culminating activities in the Central Region, a 160-bed capacity girls’ dormitory with a 12-seater sanitary unit was handed over to Mando Secondary High Technical School. The ceremony was chaired by Osagyefo Kwame Akonu X, the Paramount Chief of Enyan Abasa Traditional Council and Vice President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs. He praised GNPC as a development partner for the region, acknowledging the corporation’s exceptional levels of investment. Nana Okomfo Afful X, the Chief of Mando, expressed gratitude for the facilities and assured their proper maintenance.
Ransford Nyarko, the District Chief Executive of Ajumako, encouraged the students to take full advantage of the improved infrastructure and pursue their studies diligently, as education offers the surest path to success in life. Headmistress Roseline A. Sackey expressed relief and appreciation to GNPC for the facilities, stating that the school authorities could finally take a restful pause after years of enduring sleepless nights due to infrastructural deficits. She also pledged to ensure the proper maintenance of the facilities.
Dr. Dominic Kwesi Eduah, the Executive Director of the GNPC Foundation, reiterated the corporation’s commitment to ensuring that every region receives a fair share of Ghana’s oil revenue through tailored social intervention programs. Dr. Eduah highlighted some key GNPC-funded projects in the Central Region, including classroom blocks, science laboratories, dormitory facilities, sanitary blocks, Astroturf facilities, and water projects. Additionally, the GNPC provides scholarships to students in the region, and many others receive support and start-up tools through the Skilled Artisans Project.
The tour will continue in the coming days, with the GNPC visiting other completed facilities in the Ashanti, Bono, Eastern, and Greater Accra regions. By prioritizing sustainable CSR strategies and investing in infrastructure projects across various regions, the GNPC is solidifying its commitment to improving communities and promoting social development. These efforts demonstrate the corporation’s dedication to responsible business practices and its role as a catalyst for positive change in Ghana.
