A KEIGHLEY district school is set to further reinforce its existing links to a school in North Africa.

South Craven School, which has ties to Elmina Methodist Junior High School, in Ghana, has recently welcomed a visit from a representative of Elmina.

Last month, Ebenezer Obeng-Cobbah, presented South Craven with a gift, in the form of a spectacular ornamental mask.

Mr Obeng-Cobbah works as an ICT teacher at Elmina school.

A spokesman for South Craven explained: "African masks are considered amongst the finest creations in the art world.

"The mask presented to us is hand carved from wood with images of Sankofa birds on the forehead. The artist has used colourful glass beads and embossed brass to decorate the mask’s face.

"Sankofa is an African word which translates as ‘go back and get it’, meaning that it is important to look back and learn from the past while planning the future."

South Craven School has been building links with Elmina Methodist JHS since 2012.

Representatives from South Craven have already visited their partners in Ghana three times.

In 2014 staff and students made a direct and practical impact on Elmina school in the form of a painted mural to symbolise the longevity of the partnership.

As part of a scheme called Partner Ghana, the 21 sixth formers and five teachers spent two weeks at Elmina, where they created a new entrance to the school, and even built a library.

During their stay, the South Craven pupils worked on improving Elmina school's garden and took part in a sports day.

They also had a chance to enjoy some tourist attractions, including a canopy walk in the rainforest, drumming and dancing lessons and beach parties.

Elmina is four hours from the Ghanaian capital Accra. It is now a fishing village, though used to be one of the infamous centres of the Atlantic slave trade.

Mr Obeng-Cobbah said: “Although the partnership between South Craven School and Elmina Methodist School is young, it has contributed hugely to the success of our own students and had a very positive effect on them.

"For instance, the academic performance of students in Elmina has improved from a 55 per cent pass rate to a 90 per cent pass rate.

"This was largely a result of the new library which South Craven School built for us."

South Craven staff and pupils are planning another trip to Ghana, which should take place in the summer of 2017. They intend to spend this trip building a cafeteria for Elmina school.