President Nana Akufo-Addo, today Wednesday, April 7 2021, cut sod for the construction of a five million cedis (GH¢5 million) ‘Ghana Award House’ a new administrative building for the Head of State Award Scheme.
Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony, President Akufo-Addo remarked since 1967, the Head of State Award Scheme has challenged and touched many young Ghanaians lives, with about 750,000 people benefitting from it.
Upon completion, the Ghana Award House project will be a two-story office block, with a two hundred (200) capacity conference room, and training facility designed to house the National Secretariat of the Head of State Award Scheme.
“I have always been excited about the work being done by the Award Scheme, and that is why I continue to urge them to ensure that as many young Ghanaians as possible benefit from it. To achieve this ambitious target, a befitting administrative office for the Scheme will be required. The provision of a Ghana Award House, to serve this purpose, is my commitment towards driving the agenda of the Award Scheme,” he said.
Its construction is to help drive growth, impact, and the effective and efficient delivery of the Award Scheme to all young people in Ghana and beyond.
“Completion of the Ghana Award House project will put Ghana ahead of many of the countries running the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award”, meaning Ghana “will be the second country in Africa, after the Presidents’ Award of Kenya, and one of the few countries globally, to have its own administrative office”. he added.
He explained that “vehicles are also to be allocated to the Secretariat for its use. In addition to the one-million-cedi contribution to this project, Government pledges to do what it can to ensure that the project is completed in the next thirty-six (36) weeks,”.
He announced, its operational cost will be borne by the Office of the President, under the direct supervision of the Chief of Staff.
He also called on corporate bodies and individuals especially those in the construction industry, to join hands and bring the project to fruition by donating bags of cement, blocks, and other building materials to support the project.
“Together, we can help make this project a reality. I thank all who have contributed consistently towards the success of the Award Scheme. Now is not the time to rest on our oars, but to help realize the vision of an Award Scheme that is truly self-sustaining,” he further noted.
Filed By : Agaatorne Douglas Asaah / awakenewsroom.com
