Calls are mounting for the Ghanaian government to complete the long-delayed E-block community day senior high schools initiated during former President John Mahama’s administration.
These projects, aimed at expanding educational access in deprived communities, remain unfinished nearly a decade after their inception.
Background on E-blocks
In 2014, the Mahama administration launched the Community Day School Project, contracting the construction of 200 E-block schools to bring senior high education to underserved areas.
However, the change in government in 2016 stalled many of these projects, leaving numerous communities without the promised educational infrastructure.
Current Status in the Ashanti Region
According to TV3’s Ibrahim Abubakar, at least five E-blocks in the Ashanti region remain incomplete.
Communities like Fumso in the Adansi-Asokwa district are eager for the completion of their E-block, with work resuming recently after a halt in 2017.
Residents like Kwame Kwakye are urging the government to complete the project to foster community development.
Kwabenakwa and Other Communities
Similar delays plague the Kwabenakwa project in the Obuasi East district, where the E-block has remained unfinished for nearly eight years.
Residents, including Isaac Owusu, lament the missed opportunity for local students who must travel far for their education.
In Ejura, an E-block project has been stalled at the foundation level since 2016, while the Adobewura community school, operational since 2016, faces a potential shutdown due to declining enrollment linked to a lack of hostel facilities and poor infrastructure.
Community Appeals
Parents and local leaders across these regions stress the importance of these projects for reducing transportation costs, increasing local development, and providing quality education.
School authorities, like those in Adobewura, highlight the need for boarding facilities and teacher accommodations to boost enrollment and prevent school closures.
The completion and operationalisation of these E-blocks are vital for expanding access to education and improving living standards in these communities.
Residents and stakeholders hope the government will prioritise these projects to fulfil their potential and enhance educational opportunities nationwide.
