By: Kenneth Appiah Bani.
A devastating rainstorm on Tuesday evening has severely impacted academic activities at Ninting Presby Basic School in the Mampong Municipality of the Ashanti Region. The storm ripped off the roofs of several classroom blocks, rendering them unusable and leaving both students and teachers stranded.
When learners and staff arrived the following morning, they were met with the destruction, forcing pupils to spend valuable learning hours clearing debris to make the classrooms temporarily usable.
School authorities are concerned that without urgent intervention, over 250 affected students may face prolonged disruptions to their education.
“We do not have any temporary space to conduct effective studies. We are hoping for a quick intervention to prevent disruption of the academic calendar,” said the school’s Headteacher, Godfred Antwi.
In response to the disaster, officials from the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) visited the school on Wednesday, February 19, to assess the extent of the damage.
Assemblyman for the area, Nicholas Osei-Wusu, expressed concerns about the impact on education, especially with students preparing for their mid-term tests.
“This is an unfortunate situation, and it has come at a time when the pupils are preparing for their exams. I’ve informed the Municipal Assembly and hope they come to our aid soon,” he stated.
The storm also wreaked havoc on individual homes, leaving many residents displaced. Several houses in Ninting lost their roofs, destroying personal belongings.
“Everything in my room was destroyed when the roof was ripped off. I had to spend the night at a neighbor’s house. We are just looking up to the government and well-meaning Ghanaians for support,” said a resident, Ama Owusuaa Appiah.
Until assistance arrives, teachers and students will have to improvise to continue the teaching and learning process. However, any further rainfall could bring academic activities to a standstill.
