UNICEF, EU Hand Over Renovated Kindergarten Block to Refugee-Hosting Community in Zini
Haruna Kuri Kaayi | Radford FM
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), with funding from the European Union (EU), has handed over a renovated Kindergarten (KG) block to the Zini community in the Sissala West District of the Upper West Region to ease pressure on educational facilities in the refugee-hosting community.
The facility, handed over on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, is expected to provide children with a safer and more conducive environment for early childhood education while improving access to essential school infrastructure.
The renovated block has been equipped with appropriate furniture, a flush toilet, a solar-powered mechanised borehole and a kitchen to support the school feeding programme.
The intervention comes as the community continues to host refugees, a situation that has placed additional pressure on its existing educational facilities.
Speaking on the project, Mr. Mathew Antieme of the Sissala West District Education Directorate, who also serves as the UNICEF focal person at the office, said the renovation was undertaken in response to the growing pressure on educational infrastructure in the community.
He said the project would create an enabling environment for teaching and learning and contribute to improving the quality of education in the district.
The handover ceremony brought together stakeholders from the education sector, government institutions, development organisations and traditional authorities.
Those present included the Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Dr. Issahak Munaware, officials from UNICEF and the EU, representatives of the Complementary Education Agency and the regional education office, as well as representatives of the Sissala West District Chief Executive and the Regional Minister.
The Paramount Chief of the Zini Traditional Area and his sub-chiefs also attended the ceremony.
The project aligns with UNICEF’s broader commitment to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to survive, thrive and reach their full potential through quality education, early childhood development and resilience-building.
The ceremony concluded with a cultural performance by the Sakai Cultural Group, which entertained guests with its renowned Gugo Yiila dance, showcasing the cultural heritage of the local community.
