The Member of Parliament for Ho West, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, has cut the sod for the construction of about 17 educational infrastructure projects in his constituency in the Volta Region.

The projects financed by the Ghana Education Trust Fund aim to address infrastructure deficits particularly in second-cycle schools.

They are a lecture hall complex at Amedzofe College of Education, a 2-storey administration block at Dzolo Senior High School, a 2-storey administration block at Avatime Senior High School, a 2-storey 12-unit classroom block at Amedzofe Technical Institute, a 2-storey 12-unit classroom block at Akome Senior High School, and a 6-unit teachers' bungalow at Abutia Adegbleve DA primary school.

Others are a 2-storey 12-unit classroom block at Saviefe Technical School, a 2-storey 12-unit classroom block at Avenui Technical Institute, a dining hall with kitchen at Tito Senior High Technical School, dining hall with Kitchen at Avudome Senior High School, a 2-story boys' dormitory at Abutia Senior High School, and a dining hall with kitchen at Avatime Senior High School

The rest include a dining hall with a kitchen at Anfoeta Technical institute, a 6-unit teachers' bungalow at Kpedze Sreme DA basic School, a 6-unit Classroom block for Bame EP basic school, a 6-unit classroom block at Dzolokpuita Salvation Army, and 1 No. KG Block and ancillary facilities at Dzolokpuita, 6-unit classroom block with ancillary facilities at Tito Methodist JHS, and 3-unit classroom block at Kpedze Islamic School.

Speaking at separate ceremonial sod cutting events in Amedzofe and Tsito, Mr Bedzrah explained that the projects were initiated in preparation for abolishing the double track system introduced under the Free Senior High School Policy during the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration.

“The government decided to put money into this infrastructure [projects] because we have noticed that there is an infrastructure deficit in the schools. The current government led by His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, decided to make sure that there is nothing like the green light and blue light.”

“We want to eliminate the double track system, that is why we are investing in infrastructure in all the schools. All the Senior High Schools in Ho West are benefiting from this push”, he said.

He promised that all projects would be completed within the allocated 9 to 12 months period as adequate funding has been sourced and warned the contractors against shoddy and delayed work delivery.

The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, said the undertaking these projects symbolizes the government’s commitment to developing his jurisdiction.

“The entire region has become a construction site. Projects we have never seen in many years, the kind of development we are seeing today in the Volta Region is so unprecedented”, he said.

He asserted that the Volta Region was denied development projects during President Akufo-Addo’s and the New Patriotic Party’s tenure between 2016 and 2024, adding that John Mahama has initiated over 220 development projects at the local level since it took office in 2024.

“We have suffered under the 8 years of the NPP regime. There was a complete development blackout”, he stressed.

The District Chief Executive for Ho West, Profe Francis Dusey, said the sod cutting ceremony is in line with the government’s reset agenda, aimed at developing every sector of the country.

The Principal for the Amedzofe College of Education, Dr Dickson Tsey, acknowledged the urgent need for infrastructure for his institution, labeling the initiative as a timely intervention.

The Headmistress of the Awudome Senior High School, Pastor Ernestina Doris Peniana, appreciated the deliberate efforts by the government to provide enough infrastructure to enhance academic activities.

The over 17 projects are expected to be completed between 9 and 12 months, with the first phase to be commissioned in November 2026.