Paga Pio appeals to government to upgrade Paga SHS into boarding school

The Paramount Chief of Paga, Pe Charles A. Awampaga II, has appealed to the Government of Ghana to upgrade Paga Senior High School into a fully-fledged boarding institution to improve access to quality secondary education in the Kassena-Nankana West District.

The appeal was made in his welcome address at the official durbar of the 2026 Emancipation Day Celebration, held at the historic Pikworo Slave Camp in Paga. The event brought together government officials, traditional authorities, members of the African diaspora, development partners and tourists from across the world to commemorate the historic occasion.

According to Pe Charles A. Awampaga II, upgrading Paga Senior High School into a boarding school would ease the burden on students who travel long distances from surrounding communities to attend classes each day. He noted that providing boarding facilities would improve punctuality, academic performance and access to quality education for many young people in the district.

The Paga Pio urged the government to prioritise investment in educational infrastructure, stressing that education remains one of the most effective tools for promoting sustainable development and empowering the youth.

Paga Senior High School currently serves students from Paga and neighbouring communities as a day school. Over the years, education stakeholders and residents have consistently advocated for the school to be granted boarding status to accommodate students from remote communities and enhance teaching and learning.

This year's Emancipation Day celebration also highlighted Ghana's commitment to preserving the history of the trans-Atlantic slave trade while strengthening ties with the African diaspora.

Paga, home to the renowned Pikworo Slave Camp and the famous Paga Crocodile Pond, remains one of the country's most significant heritage tourism destinations.

Residents have welcomed the Paga Pio's appeal and expressed optimism that the government will give favourable consideration to the request, describing the proposed upgrade as a major step toward improving educational opportunities and human capital development in the Kassena-Nankana West District.