BOKEMEI FOUNDATION, an NGO founded by Alhaji Abbey – a Ghanaian based in Holland – says the first phase of its schools project in Accra for helping in training of unskilled people to acquire some skills in jobs is taking shape. The project being established will include vocational schools and farms which will see to the training of orphans, school ‘drop outs’ and adults in the field of acquiring skills in PC programming, carpentry, masonry, plumbing, hair dressing and dress making among others.

Alhaji Abbey who is also the President of Foundation speaking about the project which he called ‘Knowledge Centre’, located at Teshie ‘Tebibiamli’ (a suburb of Accra), said he returned to his base in Holland after spending 6 months in Accra working on the project. He pointed out that donations to hospitals, institutions and communities in Ghana by Ghanaians living abroad is good but the people must also be trained so they make a living out of the resources they have. “It’s for this reason we are setting up ‘Knowledge Centres’, for all sorts of people – illiterates, semi illiterates, school drop outs, mothers and fathers etc.,” Abbey pointed out.

The Foundation President also mentioned, some Board members and one investor who have been supporting the work of the Foundation from Holland, were in Accra to see the project and were satisfied with the progress of work. “We hope to complete the construction of one of the classrooms by the end of August so one class can start in September. The President of Gadangme Europe (GDEu), Nii Okoso Tetteh Mensah and his Vice – Naa Adoley Coleman - were also there and were happy with developments on the project promising GDEu will help pay the salaries of teachers and support with transportation at the school.”

The Foundation’s Secretary, Lea Kloosterman (a Dutch national) was also in Accra and commended workers at the building site for the zeal in working on the project. “I was impressed by what I saw at the site, these workers without some of the modern equipment were working hard under a scorching sun to make sure ‘Bokemei’ achieves what they set out to do for the community,” she said. Answering questions on funding for the project, the Foundation President thanked the Dutch Government for giving them permission to solicit for small funds infront of shops and public places in Holland which he says has contributed greatly in supporting the programme. He also indicated some companies, organisations and individuals make contributions towards the project. Asked about any relation with any organisation in Ghana working together with the Foundation, Alhaji Abbey mentioned Mi-ke-bo ventures as the only NGO with affiliation. He said lack of transportation, water, electricity, high cost of building materials are some of the difficulties his organisation is facing on the project. “This is a difficult time but we are bent on finishing what we have started,” he noted, adding the Foundation has farms (the land donated by some chiefs in the Greater Accra Region) where cassava to be used to produce the local food ‘gari’ at the school is under cultivation.

He appealed to interested organisations or individuals who want to make contribution towards ‘Bokemei’ to contact the Foundation on: Tel - 0031622017010 or e-mail: info@bokemei.nl