214 pupils displaced after 70-yr-old school demolished for market project

More than 200 pupils have been left without their school after the demolition of the 70-year-old Tindamba Primary School in Wa, in the Upper West region to pave the way for the construction of a new market under the government's 24-hour economy initiative.

According to a report by myjoyonline.com on June 17, 2026, the red-brick classrooms of Tindamba Primary School served as a center of learning for children from Sokpayiri, Kabenya and Wa Zongo.

Among its distinguished alumni is Justice Yonny Kulendi, the first person from the Upper West Region since 1876 to be appointed to Ghana's Supreme Court.

However, the school's long history came to an abrupt end in the early hours of Saturday, June 13, 2026, when bulldozers moved onto the premises and demolished the structures.

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By dawn, the school had been reduced to rubble, bringing to an end a legacy that spanned seven decades.

The demolition follows the government's directive under its 24-hour economy market policy, which tasked Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies with identifying suitable sites for the construction of new markets.

The Wa Municipal Assembly, working with some traditional authorities, selected the Tindamba Primary School site for the proposed market project.

The decision generated widespread opposition from sections of the community and education stakeholders.

During an official visit to Wa in January 2026, Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, reportedly opposed plans to demolish the school to make way for the market.

The proposed project subsequently became the subject of a dispute between the landowners of Tindamba and supporters of the market development.

The disagreement led to a series of press conferences and legal action before the matter was brought before the Wa High Court. The case was later withdrawn and reportedly settled out of court through the intervention of the Waala Overlord, clearing the way for construction to begin.

The demolition has displaced 214 pupils, who have since been relocated to temporary facilities at Nuriya English and Arabic School and Tindamba Junior High School.

The relocation has placed significant pressure on the host schools, with some classes merged to accommodate the additional pupils. Two headteachers are also reportedly sharing a single office space.

Meanwhile, conditions at the temporary learning centers remain challenging.

Reports indicate that sanitation facilities are inadequate, with overgrown toilets, poorly maintained urinals and limited access to hygienic facilities for pupils.

The impact of the relocation is already being felt within the community.

Enrollment at the school has reportedly fallen from more than 400 pupils to 214, as some parents have withdrawn their children following the demolition and subsequent relocation.

VPO