Encroachers take over school lands in Bolgatanga

Bolgatanga, Sept 16, GNA - Majority of School Lands in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region are being encroached upon and as a result many of the schools could not expand their facilities due to lack of space. This came to light when the Acting Regional Director of Education, Mrs Agnes Atagabe, accompanied by the Deputy Regional Minister, Mrs Lucy Awuni, visited some schools in the municipality as part of events to mark "My First Day in School".

Other members of the team are Mr Harry Epsona Ayamga, Municipal Chief Executive and Mr Opam-Brown Akolbire, Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central Constituency. Mrs Ayeshetu Mahama, Headmistress of Adabase Primary School told the team that she had for a long time been having confrontations with encroachers and that some individuals had built their houses on the school land.

She appealed to the MCE and the MP to help expand the school saying under the present situation, the school was accommodating 80 pupils in a class which is not an ideal situation for learning. Another major problem confronting basic schools in the municipality is the non-availability of toilet and urinal facilities. Mrs Margaret Ayigrah, Headmistress of the Zaare Preparatory Model Kindergarten School, appealed to the MCE and the MP to build a toilet facility for the school.

Mr Ayamga urged the school heads to liaise with the Town and Country Planning Unit to get proper demarcation and documentation for their lands to prevent encroachers from taking over their lands. He asked the heads to plant trees around their schools to serve as land banks and windbreaks. Members of the team gave encouraging messages to the school children asking them to study hard to become responsible adults in future.

The school children were given drinks, biscuits and caps. Eight Children were admitted at Adabase Primary, nine at Queen Elizabeth Primary School and 15 at Zaare Preparatory Model Kindergarten School. The Headmistresses attributed the low enrolment to the downpour of rain in the morning and expressed optimism that more pupils would be enrolled in the subsequent days.