Otumfuo’s Contribution to Education Immeasurable- GNAT

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has borne witness to the colossal contribution and interventions of the Occupant of the Golden Stool, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, towards education in the country.

According to the group, the contribution in the past 25 years is “immeasurable”.

“Otumfuo recently celebrated his 74th birthday and he is marking 25 years on the Golden Stool. His contribution to the education sector through his Non-Governmental Organisation {Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation} is immeasurable,” the group said during a courtesy call on May 8, 2024.

The delegation included Mr Isaac Owusu, the President of GNAT, Mrs Amanda Lucy Asamoah, Vice President as well as other National and Regional Executives of the teacher union.

Contribution
In the field of education, the Board Chair of Otumfuo Foundation, Nana Prof. Oheneba Boachie-Adjei Woahene, has enumerated some running educational projects of the Foundation including the establishment of AI labs, distribution of learning materials, construction of infrastructures, the Otumfuo Mobile Learning Program, the Otumfuo Community Reading Challenge as well as the provision of educational scholarships.

During an interview with Opemsuo Radio’s Mr Black, he said close to 26,000 students have been offered scholarships to undertake courses in local and international institutions.

“This was basically from basic to tertiary students in local and international institutions. Since the inception of the free SHS, we have shifted to supporting tertiary education, especially in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). We currently have over 25 students going through medical school programmes in the country plus others in Engineering, Law, Economics and Mathematics.”

“With the support of the World Bank, Otumfuo was able to garner about $4 million to build 40 six-classroom block and teachers bungalows. This was in the early 2000s. Since then, we’ve also continued to support other infrastructural developments with the most current one being the 600-bed girl’s dormitory at Sefwi Wiawso. We have requests from St Louis and Osei Kyeretwie for infrastructural support which we are considering and hopefully, we will be able to embark upon.

“We’ve given millions of students textbooks, desks, uniforms and other paraphernalia to support their early education. We have also instituted a reading challenge programme for Junior High Schools as well as the Otumfuo Mobile Learning Program which takes education to rural areas to basically help students in ICT and literacy. It also helps farmers with best practices in farming.”

The second AI lab after the first which was commissioned in Sefwi Wiawso was inaugurated at Kona on May 2, 2024.