The Akyem Asene Roman Catholic Basic School in the Asene-Manso-Akroso District of the Eastern Region has plunged into turmoil as contractor Owusu Agyekum Kontoh seals the premises, leaving pupils in limbo and their education in disarray.
The closure of the school, which boasts a modern 6-unit classroom block along with two offices, a computer lab, and a toilet facility, comes as a result of the contractor’s mounting frustration over unpaid dues for the construction project, completed eight years ago. Owusu Agyekum Kontoh, the contractor in question, points fingers at the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for failing to settle outstanding payments, citing unresolved payment certificates dating back several years.
Having commenced work in 2016 and officially handed over the completed facility to the District Education Directorate in 2020, Kontoh’s patience has worn thin as the government continues to delay payment despite his submission of payment certificates long ago. In protest, he has resorted to the drastic measure of locking up the school premises, denying students access to their learning environment.
The closure has left students stranded, prompting an urgent appeal from the pupils of Akyem Asene Roman Catholic School to the Asene-Manso-Akroso District Assembly for intervention. Their plea underscores the critical need to resolve the deadlock swiftly, as the disruption not only hampers their education but also deprives them of the conducive learning environment they deserve.
This unfortunate situation highlights the challenges inherent in educational infrastructure projects nationwide and underscores the imperative of ensuring timely and efficient payment processes to facilitate the smooth operation of schools. As stakeholders grapple with the fallout from the closure, concerted efforts are needed to address the underlying issues and restore normalcy to the affected school.
By: Isaac Nyarko, UniMAC-IJ
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