Pupils of Banko D/A Basic school express frustration at leaders for neglect

Pupils at Banko D/A Basic School in the Amansie West District are saddened at their neglect by the various government over the dilapidated condition of their school from time immemorial.

The pupils have voiced their frustration saying they have been cut off from enjoying the national cake and the government’s desertion is doing them no good but ruining their academic abilities.

According to Afaru Samuel, a final year Junior High School student, he has been accommodated by the floor since kindergarten and as the menace is left unresolved with few months left for him to complete school, he sees that the leaders of the country and that of the Amansie West care less about their progress.

JSS classroom

“Our main problem is the poor state of our school building,” he said.

“I started school from KG and I’ve sat on the mat till date where I am almost about to complete. It looks like no leader in the country and in the Amansie West is willing to help us out of this mess. I’ve seen a computer before but using it for practice is the problem.”

Angela Boateng, Pupil

Angela Boateng complained that the lack of electricity has retarded their ability to do advance studies especially in the area of Information Technology. She disclosed that their only source of light at night is torchlight and with that, their parents hold on to it for the night chores therefore revisiting what they learnt in school is not achievable.

“There is no light in this town and due to that, we have not much knowledge in ICT. We use a torch as light and most of the times our parents deprive us of torch lights because they use it whiles attending to their chores. This does not help to make our education better," she said.

The chief of Banko, Nana Agyenim Boateng told Soireenews reporter, Isaac Owusu, that the situation has existed since 1961 yet no government has factored in resolving their challenges to better their welfare as Ghanaians.

He told that teachers and students sometimes run from class to find shelter when the rains fall with the fear of the building would collapse at times.

“The school was established in 1961 by the township and day in and out, the situation worsens,” he told Soireenews.

“There were only three teachers here until we built mud house as quarters for them to settle.

“The school building is in a poor form and teachers sometimes run from class with the students when the rains are coming. We bought three computers and a generator for them but it's unfortunate that the generator has broken down.

Nana Agyenim Boateng, Chief

“Most of the students knows the theory part of ICT but the practice is the key challenge.

“We find it tough to even charge our phones saved by a solar panel that was built here which is no more working. That is where we charge our phones other than that, we travel to Pakyi (a neighbouring town).

“The decision keeps worsening and government must come to their aid.”

Pupils playing during break time

The Banko village, occupied by farmers are once confronted with another heavy road challenge which makes it difficult for them to transport foodstuffs to neighbouring towns to sell.

Nana Agyenim Boateng who is also a cocoa farmers expressed that the situation is merciless and it is affecting and quenching interest in large scale agricultural investment.

“Road linking to this village is worse so cars do not come here. During market days, we find it difficult even to sell our stuff. We are farmers and that is what we do for a living so if we are unable to sell, how do we survive.

“The worst part is that we most of the times carry sick people and pregnant women on sticks because the poor road prevents drivers from plying here.

Cocoa farm

"Had it not been the Grace of God, we would have been all dead.”

He has therefore pleaded to the government and individuals to come to their aid.

Isaac Owusu