Regional News of Friday, 22 October 2004

Source: GNA

Oda Wesley and Freeman JSS cry foul

Akim Oda(E/R), Oct. 22, GNA - The Parent Teacher Association (PTA), and the School Management Committee (SMC) of the Akim Oda Wesley and Freeman junior secondary schools have expressed concern about the decision of the Birim South District Assembly to give out their three storey classroom building to a private university.

At a Press Conference held at Akim Oda on Thursday, they vowed to resist all attempts by the Golden State University to take over the building.

They threatened to embark on a series of demonstrations if the University went ahead to take over the building.

The three storey-eighteen classroom building being constructed at the initial cost of 703 million cedis was to help abolish the shift system in the two schools.

The Chairperson of the PTA, Miss Florence Nyankson, who acted as a spokesperson for the two schools said the idea of giving the building to the University was an attempt to deprive their children of quality education since there was congestion in the present schools. She said the children needed a very good foundation for their educational pursuit, adding that education at the basic level was important and should be given the needed attention and support.

On his part, Nana Asiedu Bosompeng, Chairman of the SMC said most parents had threatened to withdraw their children from the schools if the new building was not used for its original purpose.

When the GNA contacted the District Chief Executive, Mr Yaw Amprofi on telephone, he said the University was going to use the building temporarily, adding that when the University put up its own structures, which he hoped it would do as soon as possible, the building would be reverted to the school.

The Bishop of the Akim Oda Diocese of Methodist Church the Rt. Rev. Jacob B. Impraim, told the GNA in a telephone conversation that the Church had not concluded negotiations with the University Authorities over the use of the school building.

He said the policy of the Church was that any transaction it had with private organizations had to be documented, adding that he was yet to consult the Church hierarchy in Accra on the matter.