Construction of a solar computer lab at the Nyakrom Secondary High School
In order to face the problem of power cuts in Ghana, the association School forests for West Africa and its partners built a photovoltaic panel which provides electricity to the newly built computer lab for the Nyakrom Senior Technical High School (STHS). With the support of Mr Tobias Klaus (ISC Konstanz) who organised the sponsors and the Bingo-Environmental Foundation Lower Saxony ( BINGO-Umweltstiftung Niedersachsen) which financed 30 computers, the solar computer project was implemented on the school compound between 26 May and 9 June 2012. The implementation team included the School forests for West Africa (presented by Dr. Sam Essiamah), ISC Konstanz (presented by Mr. Tomas Klaus), volunteer students of the Landesgymasium für Hochbegabte in Schwäbisch Gmünd, ten students of the Nyakrom STHS, two Ghanaian project partners (Mr Otto Addo and Bosompem) and the local partner Youth and Environmental Club. On 15 March 2013 the solar computer project was officially handed over to the Nyarkom STHS; celebrities and the media attended the opening ceremony as well. The Municipal Chief Executive of Agona West District, the school director Mr Maxim Maxell Bissi and the Chief of the town, Nana Okofo Katakyi Nyarko Eku X. and Nana Odiako-Bonsu took turns in offering inspiring speeches. Every one of them was very thankful for the sponsorship and the organisation of the project and said that it should be a model for other schools, not only in the district, but throughout the country as well.
Due to the energy crisis in Ghana, the solar computer project was highly represented in the media (TV, radio, newspapers, internet). As a consequence, the public interest in the project is still there – the population as well as the authorities appreciate it very much because it is facilitating four important sectors: education, poverty reduction, application of sustainable energy and ICT knowledge. The Ghanaian Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to present the project as a model to Ghanaians outside Ghana, hoping they could be mobilized to support such projects in their home country.
