C/R CHIEF THREATENS TO CLOSE DOWN SCHOOL OVER POOR INFRASTRUCTURE

Pupils of Meretweso Basic school in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality in the central region of Ghana study under trees due to the collapse of their building by the Upper Denkyira East Municipal Assembly. Municipal Assembly pulled down the building due to a heavy rainstorm ripped off the roof of the school block in March 2017 and it has set as a death trap to the students. The Assembly pulled their building down with assuring them that they are going to build a new one for them but the promise has not been fulfilled.

Total number of students

The 700 pupils from KG to Class 6 has now been exposed to a bad weather condition. Some of the pupils attend classes in the various churches in the community if there are no church activities.

chief threatened to close down a school

The Divisional Chief of Ankobiahene of the Denkyira Traditional Council, Dr nana Ntobonkyi has threatened to close down the community basic school if authorities fail to take urgent steps to move the pupils into a safer learning environment. The over 700 pupils of the meretweso basic school learn under trees which have exposed them to bad weather and dangerous reptiles for two years now.

Nana Ntobonkyi, noted in an interview with Ruben Vorsah, said that the situation came up when a heavy rainstorm ripped off the roof of the school block including its computer laboratory in March 2017.

NADMO pull-down structure

He said the incident was reported to the national disaster management organization (NADMO) after which they pull down the structure saying it posed a danger to the staff and students. He said the community through its own initiatives managed to provide sand and stones in support of the project but initial work on the block by the assembly has stalled completely for several months now. He said despite the fact the community is supporting the project with communal labor, there was no effective teaching and learning in such an environment.

Organize a demonstration to express their displeasure

Nana Ntobonkyi said the school now runs according to the weather pattern. The school has no shelter for the student when it is about to rain. The only solution for them is to close and run home for safety. He added that he and his community members will organize a demonstration to express their displeasure about how the authorities are treating the situation.

Donation

Nana Ntobonkyi said it was worrying him that a situation like this is been treated with indifference by the municipal assembly. The chief donates, school uniforms, shoes, computers, printers, books to the school. The chief of Meretweso stated that he will present a petition to President Nana Akuffo Addo when he visits Upper Denkyira east for the launching Of PERD next week.

Getfund not available

According to the Central Regional Minister Hon. Kwamena Duncan, he understands the chief’s concerns but asks him to exercise patience. He said where he is sitting, he knows the challenges of the Assemblies and it is not deliberate on the part of the Assembly to get this problem fixed.

Duncan said the Getfund which is the source of funding of school projects was itself saddled with debts and there for two years now has not had the relieving space to embark on vigorous school infrastructural projects but bit by bit they will get there. He said he have sent the concerns to the MCE for his further consideration and action.

community basic school is not owned by Government

Meanwhile, the minister of Education, Hon. Matthew Opoku Prempeh said the right place to report this issue in the assembly. He said reporting it to the assembly will help address the issue permanently. The minister said community basic school is not owned by Government but promises to send the worries to the President for further discussions. He added if they need external assistance they should notify the GES and MoE and ask them to send a complain formally through NCTE or in a writing document to the MP of the area.

Story and pictures by Ruben Vorsah. The reason for publishing this story is to inform readers about the school conditions on the local level. Since this is a website for local news and community development in the rural area of Ghana, it fits the scope of communitywatchdoggh.com.