Some parents are raising concerns over the dangers their wards at St. Augustine Basic School in Nungua are exposed to due to a 12-unit classroom block project which has not seen completion in about eight years.

Due to space challenges at the school with a population of 500, Junior High School students are accommodated on a Presbyterian school compound elsewhere at Nungua-Maami.

A vehicle recently knocked down two of the school children crossing the busy Accra-Nungua road in search of a toilet facility.

Sandra Otu who has a relative in the school in an interview with JoyNews said she is always alarmed whenever the child leaves for school.

“I’m never okay until he returns home. When he came home the other time, he reported that two of his mates had been knocked down as they crossed the road. I’m so sad coming to see the school in this state as a former student myself.

“Back then, we had access to a toilet facility and it’s quite unthinkable to see the dangers these children are exposed to over some basic facilities which they have to leave the school to access,” she said.

Sandra wondered why bags of cement which could have been used to complete the headmistress's office had been left to go to waste.

She also pointed out another danger which is the manhole covered with wood.

The 12-unit classroom block project with ancillary offices started about eight years ago under the then Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal Assembly to replace the existing structure at the time over safety concerns, as well as the growing student population.

However, the split of Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipality into Ledzokuku and Krowor Municipalities around 2018 is said to have affected the pace of the project.

The School Management Committee Chair, Paul Odoom said stakeholders cannot toy with the lives of the pupils.

“We have to push authorities to complete the stalled project to reduce the danger these children are exposed to. The other issue here is the balustrade. Staff common room and washroom are also yet to be completed,” he suggested.

“As parents, we’re more than ready to support in other areas, including the provision of furniture, boards, etc. Once we get this project completed, we save ourselves the trouble of relying on Presby for space,” he urged.

The chair of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of St. Augustine Basic School, Julius Awuku Dagbui believes completing the project will ensure the safety of their wards and cut down on loitering.

“We’re quite at a loss as to why change in administration should affect an ongoing project. We don’t want to be losing lives over something preventable. The children numbering about 500 could fall victim to the dangers around,” he warned.

“We need the government to complete the building as Presby Church has written to us recently to take back the building accommodating our JHS students,” he hinted.

The Assemblyman for Mkpor Electoral Area, Labaran Abdulai Osman who doubles as Social Services Committee Chair at Krowor Municipal Assembly explained that several steps have been taken for the completion of the building.

According to him, the situation is not a pleasant one having met the education directorate, the headmistress and the PTA.

“Those of us at the Krowor Municipal Assembly are well aware of this. A team from the Assembly was sent to assess the state of the project with some trench payment made to the contractor,” he revealed.

He indicated parents’ readiness to help but he explained to them the limit to which they could go as far construction of a school building was concerned.

“We prioritise education but the economic challenge is to blame. This project will be completed sooner than expected,” Labaran assured.

The Municipal Chief Executive for Krowor, Joshua Nii Bortey was certain his outfit would complete the school project despite challenges with funds.

“I can’t give timelines but we are pushing to get some funds for the contractor. So far, about GH¢600,000 has been spent on getting it to the current stage.

“The project has been on my table for some time now and I would want to see it completed, have these children educated and nurtured to become leaders. The children crossing the road is another challenge,” he shared.

According to him, the contractor working on the project is almost done with the toilet facility but water from Ghana Water Company Limited is what could be outstanding and assured to make a water tank available to be used in the interim.   

“The contractor will destroy the existing manhole and connect the toilet facility to a different one. By the close of the year, you would see a new St. Augustine school.”

Asked if the Municipal Assembly will seek support from industries which previously helped, Mr. Bortey said they will decide after assessing their options.