The Chairman of Pujehun District Council, Foday Kandeh Rogers, has officially handed over SAN Procurement as the contractor for the construction of a three-classroom school building in Bellebu Community, Kabondeh Chiefdom, marking another milestone in the district’s efforts to improve access to quality education.

The handover ceremony, held on Wednesday, 29 July 2026, brought together the Council Works Engineer, the Council Communication Specialist, a representative of the Chairperson of the Education Committee, representatives of the Paramount Chief, community stakeholders, and other local authorities.

During the ceremony, the Council Works Engineer outlined the design and scope of the project, explaining that the new school will comprise three standard classrooms, an office, a store, a veranda, a VIP latrine, and a solar power system. He noted that the facility has been designed to last for more than 25 years and to withstand the district’s seasonal weather conditions.

The Engineer further disclosed that the contractor is expected to recruit both skilled and unskilled labour from within the community, with priority given to women, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and young people. He emphasised that the Council would not compromise on quality, warning that any work falling below the required standard would be rejected.

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He also stressed the importance of completing the project within the agreed timeline and called on residents of Bellebu to take ownership of the project by safeguarding construction materials and supporting effective implementation.

Addressing the gathering, Chairman Foday Kandeh Rogers described the project as a blessing from God for the people of Bellebu, noting that many communities across Pujehun District continue to face serious challenges due to inadequate educational infrastructure.

He urged community members to remain united, vigilant, and cooperative throughout the construction period to ensure the successful completion of the project. He also expressed optimism that more communities would benefit from similar interventions during the remaining period of the five-year Accountable Governance and Basic Service Delivery Project.

Speaking on behalf of the Chairperson of the Council’s Education Committee, Councillor Samba called on the School Management Committee (SMC) to play a leading role in monitoring the construction process from start to finish. He observed that children in Bellebu Community have spent many years learning in a dilapidated and unsafe school building that posed a serious risk to their safety.

He therefore encouraged the committee to remain committed and vigilant throughout the implementation of the project.

The Council Communication Specialist, Mr Kaikai, reminded the gathering—particularly members of the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) Committee—of their responsibilities in ensuring transparency and accountability during project implementation. He also highlighted the importance of complying with Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention measures, environmental and social safeguards, and community accountability mechanisms, noting that the World Bank maintains strict standards on these requirements.

Speaking on behalf of SAN Procurement, the contractor assured the community of its commitment to delivering a high-quality facility. He appealed to the youth, community stakeholders, and local authorities to cooperate fully with the construction team to ensure smooth implementation.

The contractor further pledged to complete the project within, or even before, the stipulated six-month contract period, provided the community continues to offer its support and cooperation.

The construction of the new school building is expected to significantly improve teaching and learning conditions for pupils in Bellebu Community by providing a safe, modern, and conducive learning environment.