APPSA-UK hands over a newly constructed Visual Arts block to alma mater
The United Kingdom (UK) branch of the Archbishop Porter Girls Past Students Associations (APPSA) over the weekend handed over a Visual Arts Block to their alma mater.
The one-storey facility replaces the previous block which could no longer be used by the students.
The new structure comes with a kiln and storage facility, a clay pit, overhead projector, projection screen, desktop computers, shelves, office chairs, studio benches, tables and stools, lockers, developing boxes, potters’ wheels and easels.
The President, APPSA UK, Mrs Rita Asamoah, said the building would help facilitate the education of their young ladies in the creative arts in areas of painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography, video and film making, designing, crafts and architecture in order to excel in their chosen future careers.
The association, she explained would forever remain grateful to the former President of APPSA UK, Mrs Lydia Bannerman, whose tenure saw the completion of the building adding “what started as a dream in 2017 has finally materialised to assist the young ladies of Archbishop Porters become financially independence after their secondary education.”
According to Mrs Asamoah the journey had not been an easy one, as the association in 2017, had to embark on a fundraising campaign aside the lobbying from other colleagues in the UK, the United States of America and in Ghana to raise the required funds.
She stated that in 2017 the special guest at the fundraising was Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, who incidentally is married to a past student of APPSA, in addition to the Masquerade Ball, as well as Mrs Millicent Clarke (Nee Donkor), the Regional Head of Human Resource Africa and Middle East for Standard Chartered Bank, whose influence spearheaded the fund raising.
The president said due to the COVID-19 outbreak members had to re-strategise in 2021 to ensure the completion of the project through contribution by super sponsors of ₤1000 and other APPSAns giving ₤250 and above.
Mrs Asamoah commended the group for giving the young girls hope in their future and urged the beneficiaries and those after them and the school management to judiciously guard the facility to serve its intended purpose.
The headmistress of the school, Mrs Charlotte Asiedu Musah, commended the group for coming to the aid of their alma mater and urged other year groups to emulate their gesture.
She assured of a strict maintenance culture to ensure the facility served its purpose for the promotion of education of girls in the country.
The occasion attracted past headmistresses and other dignitaries including, Mrs Mary Armah Brako, Mrs Efia Nsiah, Mrs Rosemary Donkoh Heyford, Mrs Randa Asare, Mrs Yacoba Coomson, Mrs Felicia Agyeibea Okai, Mrs Gifty Adeabah-Anaman and was superintended over by the board chair, Ms Benedicta Nana Biney and Reverend Father John Kobina Stephens.
BY LAWRENCE VOMAFA-AKPALU
