Fifty life jackets from Republic Bank Ghana Limited have been given to the Weija Gbawe Municipality’s Municipal Education Directorate, where they will be given to schoolchildren at Faanaa.
Children in the island community of Faanaa must struggle to paddle their way across the estuary in order to receive an education.
Nine out of ten kids who were walking home from school on May 10, 2023, drowned on the estuary when the boat they were using to cross it capsized.
The children’s lack of life jackets drew harsh criticism from Ghanaians, who claimed that the jackets would have prevented the children’s deaths.
Many groups have given their widow’s mite to help these kids, who, ever since the incident, cross the estuary on their way to school.
By giving fifty life jackets to the Weija Municipal Education Directorate, which will then distribute them to schools along the estuary, Republic Bank Ghana has continued in that direction.
Supporting the communities in which they operate is part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility, according to Claudia Koranteng, who guided the Republic Bank team that made the donation.
“We became aware of the sad circumstances at some point in the previous year, and we contacted the Municipal Chief Executive to offer financial assistance to the kids who would be attending schools along the estuary. As a bank, we have committed to the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN, and one of our objectives is to assist underprivileged communities. For distribution to the children of Faanaa, we have given fifty life jackets to the Municipal Education Directorate, according to Claudia Koranteng.
As the number of children in the island community continues to rise, Municipal Director of Education Charles Odoom, accepting the items on behalf of the directorate, emphasized the need for additional support.
Since the majority of the island community still lives in fear, he believes that the life jackets’ presentation will enhance teaching and learning while also helping to increase school attendance.
As a directorate, we value the bank’s presentation. Charles Odoom, the director of municipal education, stated that the life jacket will enhance teaching and learning in addition to increasing student attendance.
