Regional News of Tuesday, 14 August 2007

Source: GNA

Chief appeals to government to take over school

Mafikope (V/R), Aug 14, GNA - Togbui Koku Ahator, community leader of Mafikope in the Nkwanta District, has appealed to the government to rehabilitate the Bizongo L.A Primary School that was destroyed during an ethnic conflict in 2002.

He said only two teachers engaged under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) were teaching there and only Kokomba families patronized the school.

Togbui Ahator told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that over 300 children between the ages of five and 11 years in Mafikope, Kitare-Disane, Adakope, Kpedevu among others were at home as a result of apprehension about the safety of the children in the school. The school was destroyed during a conflict between Nawuris and Konkombas some few years ago.

When peace returned Ewes, Nawuris and Adas refused to send them back to the school, fearing for the safety of their children. Rev. Ernest Gaewu, Nkwanta District Director of Education, said trained teachers would be posted to the school this year. He said the district assembly had promised to improve school infrastructure next year and appealed to parents from other tribes other than the Kokombas to send their children to the school since there was peace in the area.