Parents Association and the school management committee of the Ridge Experimental Cluster of Schools in Sunyani, the Bono regional capital, are accusing an NPP activist of encroaching their lands for private development.

The School authorities alleged that ‘one Mr Rasheed, who is the currently the Bono regional Nadmo officer’ is the brain behind the encroachment of their school lands.

Earlier in March this year, the Parents Association and the School Management Committees vehemently protested and send petition to the Government through the Bono Regional Minister, Hon Justina Owusu Banahene on the encroachment of Ridge cluster of School Land.

The school management says they reject the final report of the Independent Committee set up by the Minister to investigate whether the lands were indeed encroached by a private developer.

Speaking at a press conference held at the school premises on Monday August 21, the Vice Chairman of the School Management Committee, Isaac Yaw Brenya described the report of the Committee as bias and unfavoured, saying “it only protected the interest of an individual to the detriment of the school.”

“The unfavoured or bias report fails to reclaim the Surveyor Mapping Red Line on the chosen map but have created a buffer or road through the Ridge School Land to allow the private developer, Mr Rasheed to put up an Entertainment Spot, Hostel and Snack Beer Bar to the detriment of the school.”

“The Ridge Cluster of Schools Authorities and Management with backing of the Sunyani Traditional Council are protesting the reviewed of the Ridge Cluster of Schools Land and be banned on the school compound from tomorrow”, Mr Brenya stated.

“As a result of land title and due to negligence on duty of the on the part of both the Lands Commission Secretariat and the Sunyani Municipal Assembly teamed up with some unpatriotic chiefs and citizens in the town to encroach, sell and allocate part of the Sunyani Public Lands to their favourites including Ridge School Land.”

“Many general attempts at encroaching the Ridge School Land had met fierce opposition by the past Municipal Chief Executives namely; Hon Nyamekye Marfo, Hon Baffour Awuah, Hon Twumasi Awuah, late Hon Kwasi Oppong Ababio, Hon Evelyn Ama Kumi Richardson, Hon Justina Owusu Banahene, School Authorities and Management and all stakeholders. We expect that Hon Kwasi Ansu Kumi, the current MCE for Sunyani would follow suit to make history because he is a teacher”, he indicated.

The authorities explained that the said encroached lands have been earmarked for the construction of 1000-capacity classroom block therefore taking it away will prevent further expansion or development.

Mr Brenya warned that “siting a Hostel and Entertainment Spot could affect quality education through Noise Pollution, Moral Decadence and Psychological Trauma. The space left behind the 1000-capacity classroom block can be expanded to construct staff accommodation for teachers.”

They alleged that the said private developer has taken four (4) trips of sand and two (2) trips of concrete gravels belonging to the Ridge Cluster of Schools for fence wall project on Monday August 7, 2023 and making other preparations to start the Hostel and Entertainment Spot.

“Many attempts at walling the school have been halted, making room for Driving Learners, Criminal activities, smokers, prostitution and home of lunatics. Electric poles have been erected on the school compound haphazardly by private developers posing a health threat to both teachers and students.”

The School Management Committee, the Parents Association and other stakeholders have planned to embark on a peaceful demonstration within this month. This would be followed with copies of our petition to the President of the Republic of Ghana, Parliament, the Minister of Education, the Director General of GES, the Bono regional Minister, the Municipal Directors of Education, the MCE and all others stakeholders.

"We want the Lands commission secretariat to the expunge the new quick Land Title given to the private developer and NPP activist because of politics and all plots carved away from the Old Ridge Cluster of Schools Lands since 1960."

Sompaonline.com/Akua Nyarko Abronoma