GETFund is a Disappointment – Headmaster

The Headteacher of Awusakpe Salvation Army School in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region, Appealing Clement, has expressed disappointment in the double standards exhibited by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) towards the completion of a three-classroom block started by the erstwhile Mahama administration in Awusakpe community.

Mr. Clement said leading to the 2020 elections, GETFUND instructed the contractor working on the abandoned school facility, which was started under Former President Mahama in 2014/15, to return to site to the excitement of school management and the community leaders, however immediately the Nana Akufo-Addo government retained power the contractor has disappeared into thin air.

The Headteacher further explains that, the establishment of the schools was an initiative of the people of Awusakpe and managed by the Salvation Army Education Unit of the Ghana Education Services. He intimated that the school started as shade and through the benevolence of some individuals blocks were laid to get seven tinny classrooms from the shade. Mr. Clement insisted that the classrooms are uncomfortable and do not support effective teaching and learning and that, the community and school management were thrilled when the Mahama government started the three-classroom block in the community to support teaching and learning. He noted that the project has stalled after the change of government in 2016.

Mr. Appealing Clement said the excitement returned leading to the 2020 election because the contractor was called back to site to complete the facility.

“It amazes us how after the election the contractor has left the site and all attempts to get him back has failed so far. We visited the Assembly and they told us they don’t have jurisdiction over GETFUND projects” he lamented.

He bemoaned the uncooperative nature of the Member of Parliament, Kobena Mensah Woyome in finding a lasting solution to the challenges of the school, explaining that the school invited him to an open day celebration to raise funds to support some needs of the school, and he just sent a delegation with 200GHC as his support for the project.

A teacher of the school, Edem Kudadze, explains that the school closed down for close to two weeks because a storm ripped off the roof of the school. He said it took the support of the community and school management to re-roof the school and get the pupils back to their classroom. He therefore made an appeal to government and GETFUND to, as a matter of urgency, complete the abandoned facility for the use of the school.

A student who spoke to ghananewsonline.com.gh, explains that the classrooms are uncomfortable and that the need help to complete the new building.