Stowaways are gaining grounds in the port city of Takoradi with the establishment of a school that train would-be stowaways.

The Daily Dispatch newspaper said in a front page story on Tuesday that it had learned of the existence of such a school where young men pay between 300- and 500 dollars for a three month course on how to stowaway..

"Investigations conducted by the Daily Dispatch have revealed that there is an alleged stowaway school in Takoradi where able-bodied young men who want to stowaway are charged between 300 and 500 dollars for a three month intensive tuition."

"After their formal training, the grandaunts are said to be taken to a shrine at Beposo, near Sekondi for fortification."

The Director of the Takoradi Port confirmed the port authorities have learnt about the existence of the school but said they had been unable to figure out the exact location.

But he says the port authorities would be seeking the services of other security agencies like the Bureau of National Investigations to look into the matter and crush the schools.

Takoradi is famous for stowaways on ships bound for European destinations. Attempts by the port authorities to crack down on it has been fiercely resisted by many people in the city who find stowaways as an important step in their search for wealth and fortune.

Port officials have been receiving anonymous phone calls, some threatening death every time they have upped their campaign against the practice.

One caller told an official of the port to start digging his own grave. Another caller also said "it was wrong for the port to prosecute stowaways and deny them their means of livelihood when its workers take fat salaries at the end of the month to cater for themselves and their families."