Some schools in Hwidiem and Morso in the Asante Akyem District have received facelifts, following a painting exercise by two organizations.
Under the auspices of the desk of Nana Amo Kantikrau, Nkosuohene of Hwidiem, KnB Painters in collaboration with First Page Foundation undertook the painting project at Adomfe Roman Catholic Primary School, Morso Presbyterian Primary, Obenimase Methodist Primary , Hwidiem MA Pre-School, Hwidiem Methodist Primary and Junior High Schools.
The Hwidiem M. A. Pre-School project was supported with a donation by Shoot For The Stars Foundation in honor and memory of the late Rap Artist Bashar Barakah Jackson, aka Pop Smoke, who was murdered in February 2020.
According to Nana Amo Kentikrau, an American African and Director of KnB Painters, who funded all of the other projects, the painting initiative is part of their contribution towards the improvement of education in the area and the nation as a whole.
He was of the belief that, the beauty of a school facility helps psychologically in building the learning capacity of pupils, while raising their morale to become great leaders in the future.
“When children learn in a nice environment, their psyche is well developed as compared to those in dilapidated buildings or low grade surroundings,” he noted.
He said the projects are his personal and the contributions of the other organizations towards the improvement of education in the country, hoping that other individuals and organizations would emulate it in other localities.
He called on African Americans (American Africans as he calls them) to come on board and support such a laudable cause.
Known in private life as James Carl Kennedy, Nana Amo Kantikrau has undertaken several development projects in the Hwidiem Township and surrounding areas, including donation of computers to various schools in the Asante Akim area and the building of a computer laboratory at Hwidiem Methodist School.
He has also constructed toilet facilities for some schools and communities, in addition to water projects. His benevolence has seen him pay the school fees of several pupils in the communities.
The Hwidiem M. A. Pre-School painting project got support from the Shoot For The Stars Foundation in memory of the late Rap Artist, Bashar Barakah Jackson, who was tragically shot dead in February 2020 in the US.
Nana Kantikrau believes the education of the young African is one of the means of empowering and emancipating them from the effects of slavery and positioning them to take up their positions in life.
He has initiated the company KnB through a partnership with Mr. Collins Obeng Agyare, an entrepreneur, for the manufacture of several products such as soap, hair creams, mosquito spray, floor and tiles cleaners , among others, as part of his job creation projects.
Nana Akoma, Nkosuo Hemaa Hwidiem and Nana Boahemah, Nkosuo Hemaa of Morso, were instrumental in getting Shoot For the Stars Foundation to support the Hwidiem M. A. Pre-School project.