Construction on the long-abandoned Dorimon E-Block Community Day Senior High School in the Wa West District has resumed, reaching over 80 per cent completion after stalling for nearly 10 years.

The project, which began under former President John Dramani Mahama’s administration, was halted following a change in government, leaving the traditional enclave without a public secondary or technical institution.

Members of the Dorimon Traditional Council, led by Paramount Chief Naa Alhaji Seidu Tungbani Salinbile II, paid a working visit to the site to inspect the progress of work.

Speaking after the inspection, Naa Alhaji Seidu Tungbani Salinbile II expressed satisfaction with the level of work executed so far, noting that the absence of a secondary school in the area has placed a heavy burden on families who are forced to send their children to distant districts for secondary and TVET education.

"This project is the heartbeat of the Dorimon Traditional Area against the backdrop of the fact that our people are yearning for secondary education and especially TVET education. Our sons and daughters up till now still go to other districts because we don’t have one," he said.

Naa Alhaji Seidu recalled that in 2018, his predecessor, the late Naa Sohimwininye Danaa Gore II, led a delegation to the presidency to appeal for the resumption of work, but nothing materialized until recent interventions by local and national authorities.

"Having inspected the project site with my council members, I’ve realized that almost 85 percent of the work has been done. Door frames, doors, tiles, and initial electricals and plumbing are all in place. It is just a matter of time," the chief added, commending President John Dramani Mahama, the Ministry of Education, Upper West Regional authorities, Wa West Member of Parliament Peter Lanchene Toobu, and the District Chief Executive for prioritizing the project.

Guo Pognaa Saadia Mwingbang Senye I, who spoke on behalf of the queen mothers in the area, highlighted the relief the completed infrastructure will bring to young girls who are most vulnerable to dropping out of school due to long travel distances.

"A community without secondary education hinders the progress of children, and especially the girls are dropping out because of the lack of a school here," she noted. "We actually started a self-initiated private community school run by the traditional council, but due to lack of resources, it is about collapsing. We appeal to the contractor to speed up so that come next academic year, the school will be absorbed by the government."

The Secretary to Construction Ways Limited, Felix Nugor, representing Managing Director Gideon Kugbonu, assured the chiefs and residents that the project is on track for handover by the end of October.

"We had this contract about ten years ago before a change of government brought it to a halt. As you can see, it is more than 80 percent complete now. All materials are on-site, and we are expecting to finish and hand over by October ending," Mr. Nugor stated.

He indicated that while cash flow fluctuations remain a routine challenge, the firm is working with available resources and requested additional community backing to meet the target timeline.