A devastating rainstorm that swept through the Bongo District in the Upper East Region has left widespread destruction in its wake, affecting schools, homes, and electricity infrastructure. The storm, which struck on Monday around 5:30 p.m., ripped off the roofs of 13 basic and senior high schools, displaced thousands of residents, and caused power outages in several communities.
Impact on Schools and Communities
The storm severely disrupted education in the district, as classrooms were destroyed, and essential teaching materials were lost. The affected schools include:
- Awaa Primary School
- Anafobisi Primary School and Kindergarten
- Tarongo Kindergarten
- Tankoo Primary School
- Nayikura Primary and Kindergarten
- Atampintin JHS
- Reverend Father Lebel Primary School
- Gowrie SHTS
- Zorkor SHS
- Tindomboko Kindergarten and JHS
- Dua Primary School
- Kantia Primary and JHS
- Wagliga Nurses’ Quarters
The disaster affected a total of 3,290 residents, including 586 men, 770 women, and 1,934 children. Among them, 902 people were displaced, and two individuals sustained injuries. With school buildings severely damaged, many pupils have been forced to stay home, while others are attending makeshift classes under trees and in church auditoriums.
Calls for Urgent Assistance
In response to the crisis, Member of Parliament for Bongo, Charles Bawaduah, visited the affected areas alongside the District Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), John Ankoh, to assess the extent of the damage. Mr. Bawaduah described the situation as overwhelming and called for immediate intervention from government agencies, corporate bodies, and charitable organizations.
“As MP for this area, I will begin the process of fixing some of the schools, but due to the scale of destruction, we need additional support to restore all affected structures,” he stated. He also emphasized the need for urgent repairs to ensure the academic calendar remains on track.
Additionally, he appealed to the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO) to expedite efforts to restore power to communities affected by fallen electricity poles.
Temporary Measures and Long-Term Solutions
To mitigate the disruption to learning, the GES District Director, Mr. Ankoh, announced temporary measures, including holding classes in churches and other available public spaces. He also confirmed that marker boards and other basic teaching materials would be provided to facilitate learning in the interim.
Meanwhile, the Assembly Member for the Anafobisi Electoral Area, Hannah Talata Asanyuure, made a passionate plea to corporate entities and philanthropists to assist in rebuilding the affected schools.
School pupils, Christopher Abane and Samuel Abugre, also appealed to the government and NGOs for urgent intervention, emphasizing that their education is at risk due to the disaster.
A Call to Action
The rainstorm’s destruction highlights the vulnerability of many rural schools and communities to extreme weather conditions. As efforts are made to restore normalcy, there is a pressing need for immediate assistance to rebuild infrastructure, provide temporary learning spaces, and restore electricity to affected areas.
The Bongo District now looks to the government, private organizations, and benevolent individuals to step in and support the affected students and families to recover from this crisis.
