Tullow’s $10 million free SHS projects take off …Energy Minister commissions 500-bed dormitory

Tullow Oil Ghana, a lead operator in the country’s oil fields, has hit the ground running with its promise to invest an amount of $10 million to build senior high school infrastructure in Ghana over the next five years to support Government’s policy of providing free quality senior high school education for all Ghanaian children.

The Company, on Tuesday, invited the Minister responsible for Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, as the Special Guest of Honour to commission one of such projects that has been built; an ultra modern 16-unit  500-bed capacity girls’ dormitory at Nsein Senior High School  in the Western Region.

Dr. Opoku Prempeh, now Energy Minister, was the Minister responsible for Education when Tullow Oil made the $10 million promise in 2018 and actually started the construction of the project at Nsein SHS.

Commissioning the newly build project, Dr. Opoku Prempeh, encouraged Tullow to adopt Nsein SHS and transform it into a model school for  Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

“In the advent of value maximisation plan, we see Tulllow talk more about your investment in corporate social responsibility. I wish Tulllow can adopt Nsein Senior High School to make it a flagship secondary school. Meaning, Tullow should not only make it a point to complete the other infrastructure projects, but also have its name embedded in the STEM and TVET agenda of Tullow so much that products out of Nsein will really feel the impact of Tullow,” Dr. Opoku Prempeh noted.

The Energy Minister said Ghana has a youthful, energetic population that can and should be tapped into to develop crucial technical skills to support our budding oil and gas industry expressed the hope there would be a close and cordial working relationship with Tullow in this regard.

Dr. Opoku Prempeh said “Ghana is very keen and interested in local content and localization, and we believe that local content and localization will ensure that Ghanaians are equipped with the relevant skills to be able to fully participate in the industry. There will be support from the government of Ghana, as far as the accelerated oil and gas capacity building programme is concerned. You have adopted skills development and STEM education support for basic schools through secondary school, and if this STEM/TVET agenda is pursued, Tullow will discover incredible talents who will contribute to the value maximisation plan, so we can progress together.”

Speaking on behalf of Tullow Oil, the Company’s Corporate Affairs Director of Tullow Ghana, Cynthia Lumor, said the newly commissioned project and other infrastructure Tullow is funding in secondary schools would increase access to the schools.

“Tullow Ghana has realised a part of that commitment, as the first batch of school infrastructure projects has been completed at three of the 15 schools selected to benefit from our Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy support programme. The three schools, Nsein Senior High School near Axim, Sankor Senior High School near Dixcove, both in the Western Region and Nsutaman Senior High School near Mampong in the Ashanti Region, all have newly constructed accommodation blocks that will house over 500 students each per year.”

“There are 12 more projects to be completed, and significant progress has already been made, with procurement processes advanced for the construction of a 12-unit classroom block for Bonzo Kaku SHS at Awiebo, a one-unit dormitory block for Annor Adjaye SHS in the Jomoro Municipality, and a one-unit dormitory block for Kikam Technical Institute, in the Ellembelle District.  We hope to complete the six classroom blocks and nine dormitory blocks for the FSHS policy,” Cynthia Lumor added.