The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa), a philanthropic organisation founded by Abdul Samad Rabiu, chairman of BUA Group, in collaboration with the Rebecca Akufo-Addo Foundation (RAAF) of Ghana, has commenced the construction of eight multi-functional libraries in schools across Ghana.
The development is coming a few months after ASR Africa awarded the Rebecca Foundation a $500,000 inaugural Africa-focused basic education infrastructure grant to support its “Learning to Read and Reading to Learn initiative.”
At the sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of the first library situated in Kwahu Bepong community, Kwahu South District of the eastern region in Ghana, Udoh Ubon, managing director of ASR Africa, commended Rebecca Foundation for its role as the implementing partner of the project, and for its commitment towards building a reading culture amongst children in Ghana.
Ubon also thanked the Kwahu Bepong community for providing the land for the construction of the library, noting that the sustainability framework of the project will ensure its sustenance even after it is handed over to the Ghana library board for management.
He further disclosed that construction of the other libraries will commence over the next few weeks in other communities across the West African country.
According to the ASR managing director, the modern library project seeks to provide Ghanaian children a comparative advantage in competing with their peers all over the world.
“This is the beginning of a partnership that will go beyond the library. I can assure you that with what we have seen and with how you have responded to this first grant, we intend to consider future partnerships on other developmental projects,” he assured.
In her remarks, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, the Ghanaian first lady and executive director of the Foundation, thanked Abdul Samad Rabiu and the ASR Africa initiative for supporting the Foundation in constructing the libraries.
Akufo-Addo, who was represented at the ceremony by Akosua Newman, director of operations for the office of the first lady, noted that the Rebecca Foundation since its inception in 2017, had carried out several programmes and infrastructural projects under its “Learning to Read Reading to Learn” initiative in line with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
“With our partners from ASR Africa, the Rebecca Foundation looks forward to building more of these libraries in other communities,” she added.
