By Enock Akonnor, enockakonnor2013@gmail.com
A probe by ABAK Foundation; a watchdog organization has unraveled reasons behind the delayed opening and utilization of a 1 No. 3 Unit Classroom block with ancillary facilities at Boatengkrom of the Asante-Akyem Central Municipality.
The project is one of NPP goverment’s One- Million Dollar-One- Constituency (1M1C) Project, started on 28th April 2018.
Since its completion in 2019, it has not been commissioned let alone to be utilised to serve the accademic needs of poor students who walk for hours to attend schools situated at Duase and Nsiakrom; remote communities.
The Municipal Chief Executive for the area Hon Robbert Yaw Kwakye according reports has claimed on several media platforms that the facility has been opened.
However, inquisitions carried out by the Executive Director of ABAK Foundation Philip Duah at a day’s engagement with some departmental heads of the assembly, Municipal Director of Education, Assemblyman for Nsiakrom electoral, traditional leaders plus other stakeholders on Friday 27th January 2023 unraveled that the facility is still under lock and key and that the assemblyman for Nsiakrom Hon. David Adjetey is in possession of the keys to the facility.
Many residents have accused him for hijacking the facility, however when cross-questioned at the meeting, he admitted the keys are in his custody and that they were given to him by the contractor after completion of project.
The Municipal Director of Education Madam Patricia Sarpong also said at the meeting that the facility since its completion in 2019 has not been handed over to the education directorate by the DCE and for that reason there is no way students can be moved into it let alone commence academic works in it.
Though at the meeting, the assemblyman expressed willingness to give the keys to the Municipal Director of Education, he was admonished to give the keys to the DCE who will in turn hand them over to the Education Directorate so as to satisfy an official requirement.
SAD STATE OF STUDENTS
The assemblyman disclosed in an interview with the media at the event that students are facing many challenges owing to the remote location of where they presently attend school.
They lack access to a health center, hygienic source of water.
Aside unavailability of food to buy during break sessions, he mentioned that students are sometimes beaten by rain as they walk on foot to school among others.
ABOUT THE ENGAGEMENT
The meeting was held through support from iFollowTheMoney; a Pan-African movement that unites the efforts of over 6,000 activists, journalists, legal professionals and researchers to better track and follow up on aid and government projects.
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