Kuano (E/R), Oct. 2, GNA - SIDALCO, an agro-chemical company, on Friday donated 4,000 exercise books valued at GHC 20,000 to be distributed to deprived schools in the Suhum Kraboa Coaltar District at a ceremony at Kuano Islamic Primary School.

Presenting the items Mrs Gifty Lamptey, Managing Director of the company, said the donation was aimed at completing the efforts of the government to alleviate the plight of children in deprived schools. Mrs Lamptey urged the pupils to study hard to enable them to play useful role in the society in the near future.

Mr David Lamptey, Chief Executive Officer and chairman of SIDALCO, said the company would build a new block of six classrooms for the school to replace the present dilapidated structure. He said the time had come when conditions in rural schools were improved to enable the children to compete with their counterparts in the urban centres.

Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister, received the books on behalf of the schools and thanked management of the company on their efforts to bridge the gap between rural and urban schools. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said the gesture should be extended to other deprived schools in other parts of the region. He reiterated the commitment of government to provide good infrastructure in rural schools but said that responsibility should not be the preserve of the central government alone.