Accra: Nana Efua Esaaba, Headmistress of Agona Swedru Methodist Basic School, has made a public appeal for assistance in safeguarding the school's premises from intruders who have been using the classrooms as hideouts and toilets. She has called upon old students, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), advocacy groups, and residents of Agonaman to help provide metal doors and burglar-proof windows to protect the school's infrastructure.
According to Ghana News Agency, the headmistress revealed that the intruders had caused significant damage by destroying wooden classroom doors, removing window louvre blades, and defecating in classrooms. Nana Esaaba recounted the disturbing experience she faced when she assumed office in 2022, discovering human faeces on teachers' tables.
She noted that the situation has deteriorated over the years, with the school's electricity cables being cut, plunging the school and its ICT Centre into darkness. The headmistress's office has also been targeted, with textbooks and personal belongings stolen, forcing her to close one of the office windows permanently.
Additionally, louvre blades at the science laboratory, constructed by the Rotary Club, have been removed by the miscreants. Two weeks ago, passers-by managed to prevent suspected intruders from removing roofing sheets from one of the school buildings.
Reports of these incidents have been submitted to the Agona West Municipal Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) for further communication to higher authorities, but assistance is still awaited. In an attempt to curb these activities, the school has hired a private security guard, but the problem persists.
The headmistress has also appealed to police patrol teams from the Agona West District and Divisional Commands to increase patrols around the school to deter further criminal activities. Moreover, she has urged the Agona West Municipal Assembly for support in securing the school environment and requested additional furniture to accommodate the growing student population.