Eastern Region: Nestlé Ghana and ECOM Ghana hand over 6-unit classroom block to Adarkwa Methodist Primary School

Nestlé Ghana, in partnership with ECOM Ghana, has officially handed over a newly constructed six-unit classroom block to Adarkwa Methodist Primary School in the Eastern Region, reinforcing their commitment to improving education in cocoa-growing communities across the country.

The commissioning ceremony, held on Friday, May 22, brought together community leaders, education officials, parents, and residents who described the project as a major milestone for the Adarkwa community. The modern facility includes classrooms, offices, storerooms, and toilet facilities designed to create a safer and more conducive learning environment for both pupils and teachers.

Speaking at the event, Managing Director of Nestlé Ghana, Salomé Azevedo, highlighted the importance of providing quality educational infrastructure for children in rural communities.

“I am delighted to be here today for this brief ceremony to hand over a six-unit classroom block with offices, storeroom, and toilet facilities to the Adarkwa Methodist Primary School, an initiative that will inspire new hope and create greater opportunities for the children of this community.”

She further stressed that comfortable and safe classrooms are essential for academic growth and personal development.

“In a good classroom, students feel comfortable, respected, and ready to learn. It is a place where young minds are shaped, confidence is built, and dreams are nurtured.”

According to Mrs. Azevedo, the classroom project forms part of Nestlé Ghana’s broader sustainability and community support initiative aimed at uplifting cocoa-producing communities where the company sources its raw materials. She revealed that Nestlé Ghana had already commissioned four schools in the Ashanti Region earlier this year and another school in Akroma in the Central Region, while three more schools are currently under construction in collaboration with ECOM Ghana.

“We source cocoa from these communities, and we want to see them thrive in a sustainable way. This project is extremely important to us, and we will continue to invest in these communities.”

Mrs. Azevedo also disclosed that the desks supplied for the classrooms were produced from recycled plastic materials as part of efforts to reduce plastic waste and promote environmental sustainability.

Headmaster of Adarkwa Methodist Primary School, Emmanuel Padi, expressed appreciation to the two companies, describing the project as the realization of a long-awaited dream for the school. He explained that for nearly 90 years, the school operated in a deteriorating structure that disrupted effective teaching and learning.

“The children were not coming to school frequently. Sometimes they got sick because the classrooms were too hot. During rainfall and extreme heat, academic work had to stop.”

The project demonstrates the growing role of corporate institutions in supporting education and community development in Ghana, particularly in underserved rural areas where access to quality infrastructure remains a challenge. Through initiatives like this, Nestlé Ghana and ECOM Ghana continue to contribute to creating better learning opportunities for children and promoting sustainable development in cocoa-growing communities.