A heavy rainfall accompanied by a windstorm in the Volta Region has damaged several Senior High Schools and basic schools in the Anlo Constituency.
The storm tore off the roofing of structures in seven Senior High Schools and 18 basic schools, exposing students, teaching staff, and non-teaching staff to harsh weather conditions and disrupting academic activities in the affected schools.
Speaking to some journalists, the head of the Anlo SHS, Wisdom Adeti, expressed the urgent need for government intervention to address the pressing issue.
Mr Adeti highlighted the devastation caused by the rainstorm, which severely damaged crucial facilities such as the ICT lab, physics lab, and dining halls.
The headteacher also stressed the need for support to repair the infrastructure and ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff.
“We are currently experiencing a windy rainstorm that has caused devastation to the structures in the school. My ICT lab, physics lab, visual art lab, and other buildings have been ripped off. The most serious ones are my kitchen and temporal dining hall, which were built in 2012. For that reason, the actual dining hasn’t been completed.
Some students also appealed to the government for support in addressing the issue since most of them are preparing for their final examination.
The Municipal Chief Executive for the Anloga District Assembly, Seth Yormewu, highlighted the severity of the situation and stressed the need for the Ministry of Education to intervene effectively to address the damage.
“It’s not easy. I’ve not seen some before, especially in public schools. When you go to VOLTASCO, one of the new senior high schools in my district, all the roofs are ripped off because of the rain. When you go to Anlo SHS and other public schools, the damage is so huge that the assembly alone cannot afford it.
“So that’s why we are appealing to the philanthropists if they come to our aid and support us with roofing sheets and anything. We are also appealing to the Ministry of Education. “
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Anlo, Richard Kwami Sefe, has pledged efforts to initiate parliamentary procedures to garner support from the education minister to aid the affected schools.
Mr Sefe expressed his commitment to addressing the issue promptly and ensuring that necessary assistance is provided to rebuild the damaged structures and support the affected schools.
“I’m thinking as soon as we are recalled to parliament, I’ll post an urgent question, especially with the Anlo SHS issue. Because that one is virtually finished, what’s holding the contractor up? I think the minister will be in the position to answer that,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMET) has advised Ghanaians to prepare for heavy rainfall until the end of July 2024.
This caution comes in the wake of flooding recorded following a downpour in parts of the country on Monday, May 6, 2024.