NPP chairman locks up school block due to unpaid gov’t contract

On Monday morning, Issahaku Osman, the chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) polling station in Zangbalun, locked up Zangbalun RC Junior High School (JHS) in the Kumbungu district of the Northern Region, leaving teachers and students stranded because the school had not paid contract fees to the government.

According to reports, the NPP chairman performed renovation work after being hired in 2021, and the local assembly owes him ¢69,400.

A downpour seriously damaged the school structure, necessitating the renovation. After three years without payment, Osman shut up the facility to force the assembly to pay him back, even though the assembly had agreed to pay him when the project was finished.

Osman told JoyNews that in 2021, after examining the storm damage, the District Chief Executive came to him. Osman was to use his own resources to renovate the building, and the assembly would pay him back from the common sum after it was distributed.

Osman stated that he started the project with his own money and then borrowed money from Bonzali Rural Bank to finish the windows and painting as well as other tasks.

"I started the initiative with money from my business. I had to borrow money to finish it since I ran out of money when it came to the windows and painting," he said.

According to Osman, no money was provided even though a team from the assembly came to formally commission the facility for usage once the renovations were finished.

"Even though they didn't give me the money, the assembly came here and commissioned it when I finished," he said.

He further disclosed that his business had collapsed because he invested everything he had into the school renovation.

When JoyNews contacted the head teacher of the school, she declined to respond.