Mr Daniel Kwadwo Owusu, the Deloitte Ghana Country Managing Partner, has commissioned the Kwashieman Cluster of Schools library for the use of the nearly 4000 school children of the five (5) schools in the cluster.
Mr. Owusu was assisted by Ms Akorfa Ama Akoto (President, Spring-UP Global Network) and Mr Stephen Abamfo (Acting Greater Accra Regional Director of Education, GES). The ceremony was held at the school premises on Friday, 27th January 2023.
This comes exactly two months after commissioning the first library at the Osu Cluster of schools in November 2022. Consequently, this library becomes the second of the eight school libraries being refurbished across Ghana by Deloitte and Spring-UP Global Network under the Deloitte WorldClass Initiative.
The project, which only started in December 2022, was quickly completed and handed over to the schools for use. The fifty-seater library is stocked with over one thousand (1000) African-authored books to ingrain the African story in the minds of these school children. The modern library has a spacious reading floor for preschool children to read, learn and play. The various library sections are; a preschool corner, an African Writers Series section, and a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Some brain-racking games, including CHESS, are available in the library as well.
At the commissioning, Mr Daniel Owusu, Deloitte Ghana Country Managing Partner, took the opportunity to reiterate the aims of Deloitte’s WorldClass Initiative. According to him, the objective is to prepare 100 million people to be better aligned for the future of work, in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The libraries under this initiative will improve the literacy rates of children as they prepare for the future. He took the opportunity to announce that in addition to funding the facility, the staff of Deloitte will collectively invest over 1000 work hours in participating in reading and mentorship of the beneficiary students.
Speaking at the commissioning, the Guest of Honour, Mr Abamfo, representing the Director-General of GES, Dr Eric Nkansah, applauded the management and leadership of Deloitte for looking beyond profits and making substantial contributions to shape society. He also commended Spring-UP Global Network for setting the pace with the Deloitte partnership aimed at making libraries accessible to over 30,000 children in Ghana by the year 2030. Mr Stephen Abamfo expressed a profound joy in the confidence that their learning outcomes will improve when these children’s reading and literacy skills are improved.
The President of Spring-UP Global Network, Ms Akorfa Ama Akoto, also took the opportunity to call on GES and traditional leaders present to work on fencing the school compound to ensure the security of the students. According to her, the school environment needs to be kept serene and free from deviants who harbour the place day and night so that school facilities, including the library, can be protected.
The ceremony saw poetry recitals and dance displays from the students who are the ultimate beneficiaries of the project.
Also in attendance at the commissioning were George Ankomah, Lead Tax Partner, Deloitte; Abena Biney, Audit Partner, Deloitte Ghana; the Chief of Kwashieman; The Municipal Director of Education; the SISO and Headteachers; Staff of Deloitte Ghana, Youth Educators and Volunteers of Spring-UP Global Network and other stakeholders in the education sector.
Background
WorldClass is Deloitte’s organization-wide global initiative, which seeks to prepare 100 million futures for a world of opportunity by 2030. This bold ambition exemplifies how we live our Purpose, making an impact that matters by addressing global societal challenges. By aligning around a common goal and mission, Deloitte inspires increased commitment and investment in education, skills development, and access to opportunity.
In September 2022, Deloitte announced the launch of its global initiative ‘WorldClass’ in Ghana, which aims to refurbish and restock eight libraries in rural and deprived basic schools. The initiative is aimed at positively impacting over 30,000 children by 2030.
Deloitte named Spring-UP Global Network, a youth-led not-for-profit working to bridge the literacy gap between children in rural and urban Ghana, as a partner to realize its WorldClass Purpose.
This partnership will see Deloitte and Spring-UP Global Network renovate and refurbish eight (8) school libraries, making secure and conducive school libraries accessible to over 30,000 children in Ghana. As an add-on incentive and intervention, the partnership will also launch Reading and Writing clubs in the beneficiary primary and Junior High Schools in Ghana. In addition, the staff of Deloitte Ghana will collectively invest over 1000 hours in participating in reading and mentorship sessions for students in the first year of the program.
The Library Project- iRead iLead Campaign
iRead iLead Campaign and iRead iLead Literacy program is a 10-year strategic educational campaign launched in January 2020. The campaign focuses on refurbishing and or building libraries, and establishing Reading and Writing clubs called the ‘LitChild Club’ in rural and deprived basic schools in order to nurture tomorrow’s effective leaders through reading.
“A library is a good place to go when you feel unhappy, for there, in a book, you may find encouragement and comfort. A library is a good place to go when you feel bewildered or undecided, for there, in a book, you may have your question answered. Books are good company, in sad times and happy times, for books are people – people who have managed to stay alive by hiding between the covers of a book.” E.B. White
