MTN Ghana Foundation is supporting the Nadowli Assembly Women Advocacy Group (NAWAG) with GH¢42,362.49 for the implementation of the 'B' GREAT Project.
The 'B' GREAT Project seeks to provide Teaching and Learning Materials (TLMs) to basic schools, encourage parental interest in their children's education and increase school enrolment figures.
The project, which is in line with the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Millennium Development Goal Two, is also expected to help to reduce teenage pregnancies and issues of child labour in its operational areas.
Nana Adjei Perbi, Education Portfolio Advisor of the MTN Ghana Foundation, who presented the cheque to the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Cezar Kale on Thursday at Nadowli, said the support was part of the Foundation's social responsibility initiatives, which focused on nationally-prioritized health and education projects.
He said the MTN Ghana Foundation recognised education as the bedrock of every development-oriented country and as a result the AED-MTN Basic Schools' Project had so far demonstrated its practical commitment to improve education in the Northern sector.
Nana Perbi said the Foundation had constructed ICT centres at Tolon in the Northern Region, Pwalugu in the Upper East and Hamile in the Upper West Region and distributed exercise books and insecticide treated nets to pupils
in the Bolgatanga Municipal Schools.
Additionally, the Foundation would commission a 20 borehole Northern Water and Sanitation Project for 20 communities this December to provide services to about 20,000 residents in the Upper West Region.
This, the Education Portfolio Advisor said was part of MTN's contribution towards improving sanitation and water supply.
It was his hope that the MTN-NAWAG 'B' GREAT Project would be diligently executed to enable both teachers and pupils to enjoy an improved
leaning methodology and culture that would impact positively in their lives.
Mr Cezar Kale after receiving the cheque thanked MTN for the wonderful gesture, and appealed to NAWAG to judiciously manage the fund in a way that would not defeat its intended purpose.
The Deputy Regional Minister said the "Better Ghana Agenda" promised by the government would soon become a reality with such kind of private sector support and appealed to others to emulate MTN.
Mr Fabian Belieb, the Regional Director of Education, suggested to NAWAG to use part of the Funds to organise reading competitions to encourage the students to cultivate the habit of reading.
Mr Abu K. Kansangbata, Nadowli District Chief Executive, assured the management of MTN that he would personally supervise the implementation of the project to ensure value for money.