West Gonja: Damaged schools still not fixed after rainstorm disaster

The Almanara and Falahiyat primary schools in the West Gonja Municipality of the Savannah Region have still not been fixed after a heavy rainstorm damaged and ripped off the roofs on Tuesday April 15, 2021.

A disguised visit to the Almanara primary school on Wednesday May 12, 2021 saw pupils learning in two classrooms with roofs ripped off exposing them to the sun.

A similar visit to the Falahiyat primary school on May 18, also shows no visible sign or activity around the damaged school structure indicating efforts made by authorities to fix the problem.

The unrepentant and lukewarm attitude of authority towards the repair of the roofs has become a worry to pupils and parents, and what might have accounted for the neglect remains a mystery.

The West Gonja Deputy Municipal Coordinator for the National Disaster Management Organization, Mr. Mbonwura Jimah Garlado in a phone interview, disclosed that his outfit was yet to receive relief items from the National headquarters for onward presentation to the said schools but can say on authority that, monies were released to the said schools from the office of the Member of Parliament for the area to help salvage the situation.

But Head Teachers of the said schools refuted claims by the Deputy Municipal NADMO Coordinator that they were given monies to get the situation fixed. They said they are saddened over the situation and were hoping that the schools will get fixed before last two week's school resumption.

The last month's downpour was accompanied by strong winds causing extensive damage to the roofs and walls of the schools and also rendered over 700 hundred residents homeless.

Inhabitants of the affected houses had to run for cover as the rainwater soaked their belongings. A situation the victims described as dangerous and worrying as they were compelled to join others for shelter. Three people according to the Municipal NADMO Coordinator sustained various degrees of injuries in the process and were later treated and discharged.

The impact of the rainstorm caught the attention of the Member of Parliament for the area, Hon. Abu Jinapor who visited the victims and the structures to appraise himself on the extent of damage caused by the rainstorm.

The victims received relief items such as zincs, mattresses, blankets and soaps, among others from the member of Parliament to mitigate their plight as they await Government's intervention through the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO).