Is Bishop Herman College in Kpando rotting into Extinction?

Bishop Herman College (BIHECO), which unarguably is one of the best Senior High Schools (SHS) in Ghana, located in Kpando in the Volta Region, appeared abandoned, forgotten and left to rot by the state, past students, the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) among others.

The reputable school is in a sorry state and at the verge of collapse.

Nothing inspiring seems to be going well in the College, as construction projects, renovation, reforms, administrative works among others, have all come to a halt, with the revered Bishop Herman College looking like a jungle.

Coincidentally, the school has its motto in Latin as “Sicut Miles Christi” meaning “As Soldiers of Christ”, and it is obvious those soldiers it is expected to train, have been neglected and left in the bush.

A recent visit to the school, last week, revealed how the once prestigious institution which produced many best brains and scholars for the country, is now a breeding ground for reptiles. It is engulfed with filth and weeds, choked gutters and the road network is bad.

Most of the dormitory blocks and the library, are horribly dilapidated, and look like deathtraps for students.

Any wonder the abysmal performance of its students at the Science and Maths Quiz year after year? The school nicknamed “Lakeside College” lacks aura.

It is unclear, if the present woes of the College, could be linked to incompetence or poor management on the part of those at the helm of the school’s administration or the result of the longstanding confusion between the Roman Catholic Church and Ghana Education Service over the management of second cycle schools in the country.

The BIHECO spirit of brotherliness, the bond which holds students together, seeing each other as ‘Soldiers of Christ’ that inspires every student who gains admission into the College to attain greater heights does not exist anymore, The Herald can report.

The iconic multi-purpose building; the Giant Block, which is the face of the College when one enters the school, is about to collapse.

It houses the school’s only library, has a store and also serves as an apartment for school prefects, as well as dormitory block for House One. It is traditionally named, ‘Kingdom or Vatican’.

The entire structure at the moment, is a looming disaster about to strike, if immediate steps are not taken to avert the situation.

This reporter observed deep cracks on the two-storey building. Its roof has been ripped off causing the library, the store and the dormitory to leak badly anytime it rains.

But in spite of the glaring danger posed by the collapsing building, it is still being used by the authorities to accommodate students as a dormitory, and the library and the store, are all still in operation, despite the risk. The least said about the classrooms the better.

The sorry state of the College came to fore, when national executives of old boys association, Bishop Herman Old Boys Union (BHOBU), led a media tour to ascertain the state of affairs in the College, as part of preparations towards the 70th Anniversary Celebration slated for November 26, next year, 2022.

The tour was led by the BHOBU General Secretary, Edward Ayem, National Treasurer – Julius Morti and the Media Coordinator – Robert Dela Yao Mawuenyega.

So far, only the school prefects’ apartment area of the Giant Block has been closed down, with the occupants said to have been relocated to a different block.

Students confessed to this paper, they are living in fear to even visit the library. This was eminent when this paper visited the library for instance. Only three students were spotted sitting with books and reading, confirming the fear associated with the library these days.

Aside the role of government, the sad development, has also left many questioning the whereabouts of dozens of old boys, including serving and retired military offices, medical doctors, senior police officers, top lawyers, parliamentarians, ministers among others in the well-being of the school as happens with Legon Presec, Wesley Girls College, Mfantsipim School, Adisadel School, St Augustine College, among others.

The Herald gathered that, although the giant block, has been awarded to a certain contractor for rehabilitation, the work has stalled.

The drainage project on the school’s undulating campus, also looks abandoned by another contractor with vehicles unable to access certain parts of the school.

Another problem bedeviling the College, is health and sanitation as there are no dust bins, no proper refuse dump sites and decent toilet facility for students.

The school’s prime sections of the school, have been turned into permanent dumping sites with rubbish heaped all over the campus. Vultures, strayed domestic animals and flies are having a field day at most of these sites, posing serious health threats to the students.

Interestingly, some of these sites are just a few meters away from the school’s pantry and dining hall, where foods are prepared and served for the students and teachers to eat.

Both the pantry and dining hall, are not in any good shape.

In the case of the toilet facility, the only lavatory being used by the students is an ancient latrine built over 35-years ago, The Herald learnt.

The structure on the latrine itself is standing on one leg and about to collapse. However, the students have no alternative than to use. Defecating in the bush is considered a sacrilege.

The Herald observed that, due to the foul smell from the latrine, students have to strip naked before accessing the toilet. Even after visiting the latrine, there is no running water for hand washing for the students.

The insanitary situation, has caused some parts of the campus to be overwhelmed with offensive stench, and sooner than later, there could be an outbreak of disease.

Specifically, the dormitory areas like; St. Maurice House-5, Etu-Mantey House- 4, St. Victor House-6, as well as St. Benedict House-2 and St. Cyprian House-3, were engulfed with bad smells, emanating from the dilapidated latrine and dump site.

Another challenge facing the school is poor road network. This paper also noticed that, almost all access roads within the campus are in a deplorable state.

So deplorable are the roads that many routes from the Giant Block (House-1) linking House -6, through to House – 4 and 5, as well as the famous Box Room areas, cannot be accessed by vehicles anymore.

Although, construction works have started, it is observed that the project has been abandoned by the contractor about some years ago. There was also no indication that the project would resume anytime soon, as all equipment had been moved out of the site.

Among the stalled projects The Herald counted included a multi-purpose dormitory block initiated by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GetFund) to augment the infrastructure deficit in the school.

This paper is informed, several attempts to get successive governments to continue and complete the projects, have yielded no result, leaving the students crowded in the few deplorable ones available.

Meanwhile, the newly appointed Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Kpando, Geoffery Kodzo Badasu who is also an old-boy and had taught in the school for years as a teacher, has admitted he is aware of the challenges confronting the school, especially the terrible state of the road networks among others which deserve a facelift.

He assured that, even though he just assumed office as MCE, two weeks ago, he will soon meet with his management on the challenges facing the school, adding Bishop Herman, deserves its share of the national cake.

“The Assembly’s position for now, I can’t figure out anything. I just assumed office just about two weeks ago, so I’m yet to meet my management. We will look at the institutions that require support and of course, my Alma mater will be a priority on my list, and we will see how best we will do to support the institutions around us. Bishop Herman deserves its share of the national cake,” he told The Herald, during the tour of the school with the BHOBU delegation.

But the Kpando MCE, called on all past students of the College, philanthropists and all who have the College at heart to come onboard and rescue the situation.

“I think we need all hands-on deck approach – all boys, philanthropists and people who have the school at heart will join hands together and see how best we can support the school,” he appealed.

From the College, the delegation also moved to meet with the Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, where they listed and informed him about the challenges bedeviling the College, especially the abandoned government projects.

The minister, who warmly received the delegation, gave his firm assurance that his outfit would make the necessary contacts and take appropriate steps to help fix the problems in the College.

However, he directed the BHOBU national executives to let management of the College to officially write separate letters about the challenges facing the school to his office as soon as possible for the necessary action.

The delegation used the opportunity to invite the Regional Minister ahead of the 70th Anniversary Celebration in November next year. The students’ union is raising funds to do something about the despicable state of the school.

Source: theheraldgh