Accra: The Norway-Ghana Alumni Association, a group of professionals, has supported the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates at the Saasabi Community Basic School in the Kpone-Katamanso Municipality of the Greater Accra Region with examination materials. The donation, made on Wednesday, June 04, 2025, is to ease the financial burden on parents and equip candidates with the requisite tools to approach their final examination with confidence. The items donated include 100 mathematical sets, pens, pencils, other stationery items, and 40 packs of bottled drinking water, benefiting 98 candidates at the school as well as teachers.

According to Ghana News Agency, Mrs. Irene Owusu-Poku, President of the Norway-Ghana Alumni Association, described the donation as a ‘token’ to motivate the candidates to give of their best. ‘This is to encourage and let you know that you also have a responsibility,’ she said. ‘We are hoping that these tools will energise you to do more,’ she added. Mrs. Owusu-Poku emphasized that one major goal of the Association is to help create a level playing field for all children in the education sector. She indicated that beyond the donation, the Association intends to explore a strategic partnership with the school to solicit resources to undertake projects that would enhance teaching and learning in the school.

Mrs. Owusu-Poku stated, ‘The intention is to have a long-term strategic plan, where together with the school we devise plans, strategies, specific activities, and programmes to implement. Some of these activities are, for example, building the school, just some few classroom units, others could just be supporting with just a wall, others will also be mentorship programs, building the capacity of the students, encouraging them to be future leaders. We will love to see this strategic plan last long.’ She encouraged the candidates to study hard and smartly to enable them to graduate with results and brighten their future.

Mr. Charles Drah, Headmaster of the School, received the items on behalf of the pupils and teachers, pledging to put them to good use for the benefit of the students. He noted that as a school for most underprivileged families, the items would ease the financial burden on the parents and give the candidates peace of mind to focus on their studies ahead of the examination. ‘As I said, the children are needy, most of them are needy. We told them (parents) to buy mathematical sets and all those materials for their children. I’m sure most of those parents are still contemplating how to get them. So, with this one coming in, I think it will help them,’ Mr. Drah said.

While commending the Alumni Association for the gesture, Mr. Drah appealed to philanthropic groups to extend assistance to the school to improve teaching and learning. He explained that with a population of more than 700 pupils, including kindergarten, the school was in dire need of infrastructure to accommodate the growing student population. ‘We are in dire need of classrooms and places of convenience, especially for our girls when they are in their menstrual period. So, anybody at all is welcome to support us,’ Mr. Drah appealed.

The Saasabi KKMA Community Basic School serves more than five communities, including Oyibi, Maalejor, Frafraha, Bawaleshie, and Dodowa. Mr. Jonathan Otu Okunor, School Improvement Support Officer in charge of Oyibi Circuit, welcomed the support, describing it as ‘timely.’ He urged the candidates to make good use of the items and cautioned them against indulging in examination malpractice. ‘Eschew the attitude of cheating,’ Mr. Okunor advised, adding, ‘Don’t bank your hope on cheating.’

Master Justin Agoe and Miss Comfort Aikins, both candidates, expressed appreciation to the Alumni Association, stressing that the gesture arrived at the right time. ‘Most of our classmates and friends don’t have a mathematical set, pencils and pens, rulers, folders and other materials; so, it is very beneficial to us because it is going to facilitate our learning,’ Miss Aikins said.