By: Isaac Amoah

The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Manhyia South Constituency in the Ashanti Region, who doubles as the Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has donated 100 lab stools, 25 lab tables and two book shelves to the Serwaa Nyarko Girls’ Senior High School (SHS) in the constituency.

Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh making presentation to Mrs. Esther Gyasi Sarpong

The lab stools,lab tables and Book shelves

The MP, who is popularly known in the political space as Napo, made the donation on Friday, 19th April 2024, at a short ceremony.

Napo, who was accompanied by the Manhyia South NPP chairman, Richard Ofori Atta aka TomTom and other constituency executives, reiterated his commitment to help Serwaa Nyarko Girls’ SHS to become one of the model schools in the country.

A section of students at the current dinning hall

The MP, who is credited to have supported the school with computers, among other educational materials, gave a firm assurance to support the school in every possible means.

According to him, education is the bedrock of every developed country and society, adding that it was therefore refreshing when the Akufo-Addo administration boldly decided to implement the Free SHS programme to give every child the opportunity to acquire at least a second circle education.

He revealed that before the introduction of Free SHS, Serwaa Nyarko Girls’ SHS had a student population of 800, but the enrolment has increased to over 2000 students.

Aside from that, the Free SHS policy has significantly improved the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) results over the years.

Napo, who was then the Education Minister during the implementation of the Free SHS policy, therefore, cautioned the students and their parents to beware of those who claimed the policy was a bad one.

“NPP government is very committed to the well-being and development of Ghanaians, and we believe that the provision of education, especially to the girl-child, is the best way to accelerate economic development. The NPP government has helped your parents to educate you through Free SHS. All you need to do is to take your studies very seriously if you want to become a better person in future; don’t joke with your studies,” he advised the students.

Napo disclosed that Serwaa Nyarko Girls’ SHS was named after his grandma. “I’ll make Serwaa Nyarko SHS a second better school in the country after my school, Prempeh College. We’ll make Serwaa Nyarko SHS a great school very soon,” he added.

According to him, Free SHS has brought the best results. He stressed the need for parents to continue to invest in education, especially girl-child education, since, according to him, without a girl-child education, Ghana wouldn’t be where it is today.

In her welcome address, Mrs. Esther Gyasi Sarpong, the Headmistress of Serwaa Nyarko Girls’ SHS, said, “I must confess that we’re much grateful for all that you (Matthew Opoku Prempeh) have been doing for this great school. However, we, like Oliver Twist, still have urgent needs for you and the government to address. We humbly appeal for a dining hall, additional classroom blocks, an assembly hall, among others, to meet the growing population of students.”

“Notwithstanding our current challenges, our results and everything indicate that we’re not joking at all. We still want your support to make the school one of the greatest institutions in the country in terms of quality education and adequate infrastructural development,” she added.

On behalf of the school and the headmistress, the main Girls’ Prefect, Stephennie Gyasi Ameyaw, heaped praises on Napo for his continuous support to Serwaa Nyarko Girls’ SHS and education in general in his constituency.

She commended him for seeing to the implementation of the Free SHS policy when he was the Education Minister.