Akode (ER), Nov. 18, GNA- A Dutch philanthropic concern, the Van leperen Group, has within a year, spent over 500 million cedis providing a number of educational facilities for the once highly deprived Akode Primary School in the Akuapem North District of the Eastern Region.

Tucked along the rugged terrains of the Akuapem ridge on the Koforidua-Somanya road, the school within the period has been provided with a furnished three-unit kindergarten block, a Headteacher's bungalow, a three-unit primary school block, a school canteen and a library.

Other facilities provided are playground equipment, sports kits, books, storage tanks and currently pipe borne water was being extended to the school and its surrounding environs.

The relation between the school and the group blossomed when the late Mr Van Leperen, on a tour of Ghana last year and in the company of Mr J.G. Knol, a known philanthropist at Mampong Akaupem, were shocked by the facilities at the school.

Class sessions for the then 87 pupils, which has now increased to 132 were being held under sheds and some ramshackle facilities. At a commissioning ceremony at Akode on Thursday, a visibly gratified Nana Justice Korang Otutu Kono, An Appeal Court Judge and Okerehene of Akuapem, commended the Group for its achievements and announced the intention of the Okereman to honour them.

The honour will be in addition to citations already bestowed on Mr. Knol, Mr Huig Van Leperen and Mrs. Anne Van Leperen, brother and wife of the late Van Leperen who have promised further facilities to the school. Nana Otutu Kono extolled the spirit of voluntarism of the Group and said what was more surprising about their achievement was how Mr. Van Leperen came to settle on the school in such a remote area without any solicitation.

The Akuapem North District Chief Executive, Mr Edward Adu Aboagye, presented a quantity of exercise books to the school and asked the community to be encouraged by the interest being shown in them and do more for the school.

The assembly, he pledged, would help extend electricity to the school as requested by the school authorities.

The Member of Parliament for Okere, Mr Bradford Adu, asked the parents to instill a culture of reading in their pupils to justify the investment being made in them.

Shedding tears and amidst sustained affirmation by the people, Mrs. Anne Leperen, accepted a token stool to become a development Queen of Akode.

Other dignitaries who witnessed the ceremony included Dr. Eugenia Danquah Quist, Ex-DCE of Akuapem North and Mr Alfred Osei, the District Director of education.