Biakpa (V/R), July 04, GNA - Disaster Volunteers, Ghana (DIVOG), a Ho-based non-governmental organization, has constructed a three-unit classroom block and an office for the Roman Catholic Primary School, at Avatime-Biakpa, in the Ho Municipal area. The 16,000 dollar project was supported by DIVOG's friends from Cana= da and the USA. The project, code named 93Going, going Ghana" is to help provide de= cent teaching and learning places for teachers and pupils, to help stop the practice of holding classes in the chapel. At a commissioning ceremony, Mr Richard Yinka, Executive Director of DIVOG, said the NGO was resolved to help bring development to the Volta Region through education. He said in the past nine years, DIVOG had contributed immensely, "trying to reach every community at a time with educational infrastructur= e." Mr Yinka urged beneficiary communities to be hospitable to volunteers, who come to help develop their areas.

Mr Joseph Amenowode, Volta Regional Minister, commended DIVOG for the initiative and called on teachers to maintain the facilities. He said maintenance of school blocks and other educational facilities in the country left much to be desired and called on head-teachers to sit up. Mr Amenowode urged them to use the capitation grant wisely and ensure that educational infrastructure in their schools were maintained. Reverend Father Sebastian Eli Tsedzah, Priest in charge of the Roman Catholic Church at Biakpa expressed gratitude to DIVOG and said the Church was going to make the school, a model one in the community. "We promise to make this school the best and produce very high quali= ty, award winning students," he said. Okusie Takyi X, Chief of Avatime-Biakpa, who was elated about how the project was completed within five months, with the community providing communal labour, called for more such projects for the rapid development of the area. He commended Mr Emmanuel Bedzrah, Member of Parliament for Ho-West for donating five streetlights and two boreholes to the community and pledged the preparedness of the community to maintain the facility.