Okaikoi saves Mampong Akwapim School

A former National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate for the Okaikoi North Constituency, Mr. Andrew Nii Okakoi, on Thursday prevented the Mapong Akwapim School for the deaf from possible ejection, when he paid an amount of seven thousand cedis (7,000) to offset half of the debt the school owes its landlords.

The school, which is housed in rented premises at Mampong Akuapem in the Eastern region, has been served with an ejection notice as a result of the authorities’ failure to pay a GH14, 000 rent arrears. The school which started in 1957, was the first School built to take care of the deaf and dumb in Ghana.

However, the condition at the school today needs much to be desired. Alhaji Al-Wahab, who presented the money to the school on behalf of Mr. Andrew Okaikoi said, “Service to others is an integral part of Mr. Okaikoi.” He noted that, Mr. Okaikoi was touched by the story of the school hence “his decision to help prevent the innocent students from ejection.”

Any possible closure of this school, he said, will be damaging not for the students but for the country. Mr. Al-Wahab also revealed Mr. Andrew Okaikoi’s intention to help build a toilet facility for the school.

“If these innocent students are trekking 2kilometers to attend natures-call, then we have a serious problem in this country,” he said. Mr. Al-Wahab expressed his profound appreciation towards the efforts the headmaster and staff of the school were putting in for the welfare of students, despite the difficult situation they find themselves.

“We appeal to corporate bodies, philanthropic organizations and individuals to salvage this outfit from its predicament. It is national disgraces to have these innocent children go through this hell,” he said. The Mapong Akwapim School for the deaf, a secondary/technical school survives mainly on government funds and also donations from individuals and corporate bodies.

According to the school authorities, they have arrived at a point where eviction is starring them in the face, due to the late release of funds by the government.

Another pressing issue confronting the school is the lack of computers, making learning and teaching of Information Communication Technology (ICT) for the students and teachers very difficult.

“We have no single computer in this school, in addition to other serious problems we face,” noted Mr. Nathan Pecku, Headmaster of the school. The school, which has students from Nigeria, Togo, La Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Kenya is in a state of despair, as the authorities strive under strenuous conditions to keep it running. It has no toilet facility. At times, teachers have to use their own money to cater for some of the urgent needs of students as they await the government’s subvention.