Ghanata students move to new site

Dodowo (E/R), Jan. 23 GNA - Students of Ghanata Secondary School at Dodowa in the Dangbe West District of the Greater Accra Region have moved to their new site although work has not been completed. The site is still without electricity and water but Mr James Myers, Headmaster of the School, told the GNA that the decision to move was to send signals to the contractor and the Government on the delay in completing the work on schedule.

He said the delay had worsened difficulties the school faced in accommodation for the increasing number of students and finding classrooms for them.

"How can we have a Form One enrolment of about 500 students; study at the school's Assembly Hall without enough desks and seek shelter elsewhere when it rains because the ceiling leaks?" Mr Myers asked. The Headmaster said the location of the old site in the centre of town also made it inconvenient for teaching and learning, as hawkers disturbed students and teachers.

The students moved to the new site, which is two-and-a-half kilometres from the old site, at the beginning of the new term this month, after a forum at which they agreed voluntarily, irrespective of the absence of electricity and water, to relocate.

Classroom blocks, dormitories and other facilities at the site have all been completed and electrical wiring has been completed but power is yet to be connected to the buildings.

Students reported to school with lanterns and battery lamps. Private studies take place at the dining hall complex with fluorescent lamps, provided by the School.

The District Assembly has purchased a transformer, which is yet to be handed over to the School while the Assembly in collaboration with the District Fire Service provides water.

The Government in 2003 awarded the contract and work was scheduled to be completed in a year.

The Government selected Ghanata Secondary School to be upgraded as a model school in the District, as part of its policy to improve infrastructure and academic facilities of at least one secondary school in each district.

The School has two classroom blocks, two boys' dormitories and one girls' dormitory; a science laboratory; computer laboratory; library complex; sick bay; science block; visual arts and home economics departments; five teachers' bungalows and a residential block for the Headmaster.

Master Daniel Eastwood Sogah, Senior School Prefect, expressed joy and satisfaction at the new facilities and pledged to ensure that his colleagues maintained them.

Miss Bernice Ayim; Ms Miriam Mills and Master Yaw Asomaning, all students, said they were happy to have moved to the new site and preferred the prevailing conditions to the old site.

Madam Ernestina Amegavi, a parent, said she was also happy about the facilities at the new site and called on the authorities to expedite action to ensure that the contractor finished the project for smooth academic work at the school.

Ghanata Secondary School is a Government-assisted mixed boarding school founded in 1936 by the Reverend Isaac Doe Osabutey-Aguedze. The Government took over the school in 1953.

It has a population of 1,500 students and offers courses in General Arts, Visual Arts, Home Economics and Science.