Unity School, youth impasse solved

By Naa Betty Mingle

The Unity Cluster of Schools, situated at Kotobabi, a suburb of Accra, needs urgent infrastructural aid, as the present state of the school’s classrooms cannot contain the ever-increasing school population.

This has become an issue of concern and worry for both teachers and parents whose children have to virtually compete for learning space, following the abrogation of the shift-system by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.

While this issue persists, space on the school compound, which was intended for a new school edifice for the students is in contention.

Some disgruntled youth, who insist that land is the only available space for their sporting activities, have stalled the project, maintaining it was their land and no one could talk them into giving it up for a school project.

Following this stance, the Mayor of Accra, Dr. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, yesterday led a delegation to the community in an attempt to settle the impasse and clarify the Assembly’s intention to use that land.

He indicated that “it is important to exercise and play but this situation is important, because it would eventually inure to the benefits of both the future of their children and enhance better learning delivery.”

He stated that he had met with the opinion leaders, chiefs and the Assembly Member of the area, who had confirmed that the existence of other available areas for their recreation at Kotobabi Abavana and the Kawukudi Park.

This, the youth also confirmed as existing, but were quick to add that there were other football clubs that used those parks as their training grounds, and their actions would imply gate crashing them.

The Maamobi Mantse, Nii Kpakpofio Saka II, however called on the youth to exercise restraint, since the inexistence of the school facility was depriving students in the area from winning awards.

He also indicated how their community was left out in the government’s one-laptop-per-child project for schools because of the absence of a computer laboratory, which the new building would provide.

The spokesperson for the disgruntled youth, Atayi Curaj, said after consultations with his colleagues they had agreed to allow the commencement of the project, and would pledge their full support for its completion.

Dr. Vanderpuije thanked them for the cooperation and understanding, and gave the assurance that that their decision would see a drastic and positive transformation of the image of the community.

 

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