In fulfilment of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Golden Veroleum (Liberia) Inc. (GVL) and the people of Butaw, GVL has completed the construction works of US$120,000 eight classroom annex and a teacher quarters at the Butaw Junior High School for the elevation of the school to Senior High School level.
This building is pending dedication in Butaw District, Sinoe County. The new facility when turned over shall help provide good education for children in Butaw District and its surroundings. It will also put an end to students traveling long distances to acquire High School education. The new facility is also expected to take in more than 300 pupils including the present children who are now in the school from elementary to junior high.
In addition to these projects, Golden Veroleum (Liberia) Inc. has embarked on the rehabilitation of a number of schools under its GVL Educational Support (GES) Program in its operational areas in Sinoe and Grand Kru Counties.
The GES Program is designed and intended to support the educational needs of both GVL worker’s dependents and pupils in communities within the GVL operational areas in Sinoe and Grand Kru Counties, and shall operate for the 2020-2021 academic year. The possibility of extension for the over USD$270,000 program will be reviewed after the current academic year. The GES Program will specifically support the provision of allowances for volunteer teachers in selected schools and the provision of teaching and learning materials for the selected rehabilitated schools.
Over 20 Schools from Sinoe and Grand Kru Counties will benefit from the GES program. For the smooth implementation of the GES Program, a Coordination Committee will be constituted in each county comprising of GVL Management, GVL Workers Union, Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to provide strategic guidance, to monitor and to evaluate the performance and impact of the GES Program.
GVL donates annually 100,000 USD Scholarship grants to the Government of Liberia through a distribution to its two concessional counties, 35% directly to Grand Kru, 35% to Sinoe and 30% to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Furthermore, GVL has also completed and dedicated a modern Market Building with a full sanitation facility (four compartment pit latrine) in Butaw District, Sinoe County. The Market Building valued at USD$40,000.00 is currently serving marketers from Butaw communities, GVL camps including Greenville.
The handing over ceremony was held at the market ground in Butaw on April 25, 2020 in compliance with prevailing restrictions on meetings due to COVID-19 and all safety precautions were taken.
GVL communication coordinator Mr. Alphonso Kofi urges Butaw communities and marketers to take good care of the facility for its longevity. Mr. Kofi also encourages marketers to make use of the sanitation facility, during market days.
GVL General Manager for Sustainability, Dr. Michael Abedi-Lartey, reaffirmed that GVL remains committed to implementing projects within the MOU and further called on the communities to properly maintain the constructed facility and use it for its intended purposes for the benefit of the surrounding communities.
Speaking on behalf of the Butaw communities, Mr. Benedict Manewah and Hon. Matthew Nyenswah lauded GVL for the completion of the Market. The duo said GVL has demonstrated to the people of Butaw its willingness and great collaboration to implement and fulfill the MOU. They described the turning over of the market as a milestone and added that the project is the first of its kind since the establishment of the District. They pledged that the market building shall be used for its intended purpose and will be properly managed. Mr. Manewah, as a City Major of Kaysieh City where the market is located, said a committee will be organized to run the day to day affairs of the facility.
These projects fulfill many commitments made to the people of Butaw in the Memorandum of Understanding Incorporating Social Agreement (MOU/SA) signed between GVL and Butaw District Communities on February 10, 2017.