The Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of Tema, Hon. Ebi Bright, has challenged corporate entities operating within the metropolis to move beyond traditional, mandatory corporate social responsibility and adopt direct, community-first interventions.
Speaking at the official commissioning of the refurbished Republic Road Nursery School in Tema Community 4, Hon. Ebi Bright placed the spotlight firmly on local development and corporate patriotism and volunteerism.
The extensive renovation of the kindergarten block was entirely funded and executed by employees of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) under their self-initiated “40-Forward” project, as the climax of initiatives in celebrating the Corporation’s 40th anniversary.
Expressing profound gratitude to the GNPC workforce for taking the steering wheel on education development, the mayor emphasized that community growth accelerates when corporate staff whose office complex is situated within the metropolis see themselves as true neighbours to the community.
“Once the corporation is operating right here in Tema, we must let this standard guide us moving forward and ask that the tagline of this staff-led initiative, leaving footprints in communities become our collective reason to push forward and do even more for our people” She noted.
The project, which represents a personal contribution from GNPC staff to the community that hosts their office, transformed a 4-unit kindergarten block with new ceilings, modern tiling, a fresh washroom facility, and a dedicated polytank for water security. The classrooms feature innovative furniture made from recycled plastic by McKintosh to instil green habits early, alongside vibrant educational murals of petroleum machinery and personnel at work designed to trigger childhood interest in careers within the industry.
For the local government, the school’s unique features set a new benchmark for public early-childhood infrastructure.
The CEO of GNPC was represented at the ceremony by Dr. Edward Appiah-Brafoh, the Director of Human Resources. Speaking on his behalf, Dr. Appiah-Brafoh echoed the MCE’s focus on grassroots ownership, stating that the project perfectly captured the values of volunteerism and collective responsibility that define GNPC’s 40-year legacy.
With local authorities, including Metropolitan Director of Education Madam Bernice Ofori and Headmistress Mrs. Mavis Adatsi Jessie present, Hon. Ebi Bright’s remarks framed the “40-Forward” initiative not just as a one-time corporate gift, but as an active roadmap for the Metropolitan’s partnership and shared prosperity in Tema.
