Controversy over Abadwum school blockAdansi North Assembly

THE ADANSI North District Assembly has officially broken its silence, on why it relocated a six-unit classroom block for the Bena community, to Abadwum.

This was necessitated by recent media publications that the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr. Peter K. Ameyaw, had squandered money meant for the Bena project.

At a press conference, held on Thursday, Mr. Peter K. Ameyaw, said it was not true that he had squandered the money, but rather relocated the project to Abadwum, citing low enrollment as one of the reasons that necessitated the action by the assembly.

Giving a brief history surrounding the project, Mr. Ameyaw noted that the Ministry of Education, in April last year, requested the District Director of Education to submit returns of schools under trees, which the latter submitted as being 15.

He said the ministry later notified the district, of the allocation of a six-unit classroom block to be constructed at Bena, Aduposo and Mensahkrom, as well as three-unit classroom block at Obonsu and Ahinsan.

He said the executive committee of the assembly, scrutinized the contract and decided to relocate that of Bena, Oduposo and Obonsu to Abadwum, Akwanserem and Aboabo II, respectively.

The DCE said the selection of Abadwum became more pronounced, judging from the fact that three communities, namely Abadwun old and new towns and Achaise that feed the Abadwum primary, had no Junior High School, compelling the children to trek to Akrokerri, a distance of approximately three kilometers, after primary six.

He continued that since plans to construct a three-unit classroom block at Bena, by the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Nana Abu Bonsra, had reached an advanced stage, there was no need for the assembly to add the six-unit classroom, to a community with a population of about 250 people.

“Indeed at the time of the award of the contract, enrollment at the school was fewer than hundred, and as we speak now, the enrollment remains the same.”

Mr. Ameyaw added that the assembly relocated the three-unit classroom block at Obonsu, to Aboabo II, because the community was not within the district, while low enrollment accounted for the relocation of the Aduposo project to Akwanserem.

The District Chief Executive told journalists, after conducting them round some of the projects, that the assembly has officially informed officials of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) of the relocation.