The project, which is expected to be completed within six months, will comprise ten fully furnished classrooms, an office, washroom facilities, and a mechanised borehole to improve teaching and learning in the community.

The initiative was facilitated by Mr. Issah Mohammed Bataglia, Member of Parliament for the Sissala East Constituency, as part of efforts to address educational infrastructure challenges and improve learning outcomes in the area.

Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony, Mr. Lewil Charles, the Sissala East Municipal Director of Education, noted that despite having the highest enrolment in the municipality, the Bugubelle school lacked adequate classroom infrastructure.

He disclosed that the school currently has an enrolment of 827 pupils, making it the most populated basic school in the municipality.

According to him, overcrowding in the existing classrooms had negatively affected effective teaching and learning, making the GPMS intervention both timely and necessary.

Mr. Charles expressed gratitude to GPMS and the Member of Parliament for facilitating the project, stating that it would significantly improve the learning environment and help address the community’s classroom deficit.

The Sissala East Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Adamu Benin Yakubu, also commended GPMS for the intervention and praised the MP for his commitment to educational development in the municipality.

He said the project highlighted the importance of collaboration between public institutions and development partners in improving social infrastructure and enhancing the quality of education.

Mr. Yakubu urged the contractor to engage local labour where possible, ensure high-quality workmanship, and complete the project within the stipulated timeframe.

He further appealed to other development partners to support development initiatives in the municipality to improve the livelihoods of residents.

For his part, Mr Bataglia reiterated that education remained a key priority in his development agenda, explaining that Bugubelle was selected because of its urgent educational infrastructure needs.

He expressed appreciation to the management of GPMS for responding positively to the request and investing in the future of children in the constituency.

Mr. Godwin Duncan Alikor, General Manager of GPMS, said the project was inspired by the organisation’s desire to support children, whom he described as the future leaders of the nation.

He emphasised GPMS’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and reaffirmed the organisation’s dedication to supporting communities through impactful educational interventions.

Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Nayon Bilijo, Board Chairman of the Tema Oil Refinery, underscored the importance of education as a catalyst for national development.

He encouraged the people of Bugubelle to take ownership of the project and ensure its proper maintenance upon completion.

When completed, the classroom block is expected to bring relief to pupils, teachers, and residents of Bugubelle and surrounding communities by providing a more conducive environment for teaching and learning.