The Palestinian Ambassador to Ghana, Abdalfatah Ahmed Khalil Alsatarri, has called on Ghanaian leaders, chiefs and parents to place the welfare of children at the centre of national development, stressing that the future of the country depends on how well the next generation is nurtured.
He said while Palestine continues to suffer the destruction of schools, hospitals and basic infrastructure as a result of the Israeli occupation, Ghana has the peace and opportunity to educate its children, and must not take that for granted.
The envoy made the call on Friday at Dramani Kope, a Muslim community in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region during the commissioning of a three-unit classroom block he constructed for the community.
Ambassador Alsatarri recounted his earlier visit to the area with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, where community members appealed to him for a school to replace their dilapidated structure.
“I promised you that I will do it and today we can say we did it together. I like to see the smile on the faces of these children. I pray to see some of them become teachers, doctors, nurses and professors in the future,” he said.
He revealed that the school project adds to a mosque, a mechanised borehole and washrooms he had previously built for the community, and further announced plans for a “big, big project” in the area, details of which he said would be unveiled soon.
The Ambassador, who expressed deep sorrow about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, said over 62,000 Palestinians, including more than 25,000 children, had lost their lives since October 7, 2023.
He urged Ghanaians to value their peace and unity, adding: “Please take care of your children, take care of your country. You should like your country and your people more than you like yourself.”
Mr Alsatarri also highlighted ongoing projects by the Palestinian mission in other parts of Ghana, including the construction of a six-classroom block, mechanised borehole and washrooms in Kumasi.
He expressed appreciation to Ghana for its continuous solidarity with Palestine, citing a recent donation by President John Dramani Mahama of two containers of chocolate to children in Gaza. “We are one country and one people,” he said.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) of the North Tongu District, Victoria Amefadzi-Yawa Doe, in her statement described the new school block as “one of its kind in the district” and pledged that both the Assembly and the Education Directorate would ensure its proper maintenance.
She, however, appealed for additional support, particularly in the provision of more mosques, access to potable water, and the recruitment of Arabic teachers to strengthen the Arabic curriculum in other underserved Muslim communities.
The representative of the District Director of Education, Dominic Adorboe, thanked the Ambassador for what he described as a transformative intervention in a hard-to-reach and under-resourced community.
He said the project was timely, as many children in the enclave had to walk long distances to neighbouring towns to access education.
He said the new facility would not only provide a safe and comfortable learning environment but also contribute to the Directorate’s vision of expanding Islamic schools in the district.
FROM STEPHANIE BIRIKORANG, DRAMANI KOPE