Pupils of Bolga Soe based St. Paul’s Primary school in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region still practice open defecation. This was made known by school authorities during the school’s 60th anniversary celebrations held in Bolgatanga.
Speaking exclusively to Word News, the headmistress, Mrs. Victoria Apana lamented the deteriorating nature of the school building. The structure has its roof leaking. There is inadequate furniture, broken floors, encroachment of the school land by some indigents. The school have no functional toilet facility. This, compels teachers and pupils to resort to open defecation. Few, are lucky to have access to nearby houses with household latrines to attend to nature calls.
The deplorable toilet facility is now a death trap thus reducing the enrolment strength of the school, said to be one of the oldest in the region.
She disclosed that the kindergarten has recorded the poorest enrolment in recent times.
Madam Victoria Apana pleaded with the government and all well meaning philanthropists, Non-governmental organizations to come to the aide of the school.
Seidu umu, a basic six girl told word news that though their teachers are hardworking, academically their school is challenged with a lot problems such as furniture.
“what I like about our school is that our teachers are hardworking, they teach us well, but we do not have furniture to sit on , so we are appealing to president Nana Akuffo Addo come to their aide”.
Adombila Angela, another pupil told Word News that their friends in other schools have been teasing them and have nicknamed their school as “Apeliwagebe” meaning the bodies look very white even if they bath to school, they will still look white due to their classroom situation.
The guest speaker, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, berated the dignitaries who failed to honour the invitation to the program. He noted that same people will have been struggling for recognition if they were invited to attend similar functions in other parts of the country. The seasoned Ghanaian journalist and managing editor of the Insight Newspaper visibly expressed his anger relative the the poor posture of appointed officials to local events.
The Upper East Regional minister, Mr. Stephen Yakubu and the Bolgatanga municipal chief executive, Mr. Rex Asanga as well as several other dignitaries who were invited failed to attend.
Source: mywordfmonline.com /Gaspard Ayuureneeya