At least 350 basic and second cycle schools in the Akuapem area of the Eastern Region have been closed down for a week to allow for the final funeral rites of the late Paramount Chief Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa.

Educational authorities in the region say the closure is in the best interest of the students who are set to lose a total of 40 lecture hours for the period that the schools have been asked closed.

According to the authorities, on resumption on February 8, lecture hours will be extended for all the schools within the three districts under the Akuapem Tradition Area to make up for the lost hours.

TV3's Yvonne Neequayee reports that "already, educational standards have been worrying" in the region and the latest development could exacerbate the situation. She reports that there have been absolute silence on all the campuses visited.

"We cannot vouch for the students’ safety especially those in the Senior High. Security intelligence gives us every cause to close down the schools. We fear students or pupils might get missing. We don't want to be hold responsible, parents should care for their wards," the Akwapem North Municipal Education Director Kwame Nyamekye told Yvonne Neequayee.

He added: "We have asked the head of schools to increase contact hours with students and pupils when they reopen after a week. We will also ensure the circuit supervisors increase supervision and monitoring. Any teacher who fails to observe that would have [his/her] salary deducted".

Meanwhile the final funeral rites for late Akwapem paramount chief, Oseadeeayo Addo Dankwa has commenced. It is expected to end on February 8.

The entire communities in the traditional area have been draped in black and red. Food joints and drinking bar have positioned themselves to increase sales as some indigenes have started returning home to mourn their paramount chief.

As part of the funeral rites, drinking bars have been ordered to close at 11:00PM each day until February 8. Noise making has also been banned in the area.