Akuapem north: Akuapem North Member of Parliament (MP), Sammi Awuku, has called on the parents of students identified as participants in the violent clashes between Okuapeman Senior High School (SHS) and Mount Sinai SHS to contribute financially towards repairing the extensive damage caused during the incident.
According to Ghana Web, the destruction has placed an unexpected financial burden on the two schools, the Akuapem North Municipal Assembly, and other stakeholders, who now need to mobilize resources to restore the affected facilities. Speaking on Adom FM's Dwaso Nsem, Awuku emphasized the severity of the situation, noting that some of the destroyed facilities were dormitories where students reside, highlighting the potential risk to life.
Awuku explained that restoring the damaged facilities would require a collaborative effort involving the Municipal Assembly, Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), his office, and other stakeholders. However, he stressed the importance of parental responsibility, asserting that parents of the students involved in the violence should also contribute to the rebuilding efforts.
'The debt that has accrued, as the MP, I have to use part of my Common Fund; the Assembly, the PTA are all supposed to contribute towards the rebuilding. The parents of the students involved in this crime must brace themselves that they are going to contribute because it just doesn't make sense,' he stated.
The MP highlighted the financial challenges posed by the destruction, noting that the cost of repairs was not included in the Assembly's budget or his Common Fund commitments for the year. He described the situation as worrying and appealed to the old students of both schools to support the rebuilding efforts, emphasizing the need for a timely response to ensure students can return to safe and habitable learning environments.
Awuku stressed the urgency of the situation, as students are expected to return to campus soon, and underscored the importance of preventing future incidents by implementing measures to avoid a recurrence of clashes.