Traditional authorities and residents of Gomoa Maim in the Gomoa West Constituency of the Central Region have made a passionate appeal to the government to urgently renovate the Gomoa Maim D/A Junior High School, describing the deteriorating school structure as a “death trap” that poses a serious danger to pupils and teachers.
According to the community leaders and parents, the school building has remained in a deplorable condition for nearly five years, forcing hundreds of schoolchildren to study under unsafe conditions despite repeated appeals to the relevant authorities.
They lamented that every rainfall disrupts academic activities because classrooms become unsafe for teaching and learning, leaving pupils stranded and affecting their education.
Some parents, who spoke to 1960news.com, expressed fear that the weakened structure could collapse at any time if immediate intervention is not undertaken.
“We send our children to school every day with fear because the building is no longer safe. Whenever it rains, lessons have to stop. We are pleading with the government to come to our aid before disaster strikes,” one concerned parent said.
The concerns were raised during a community engagement programme with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) aspiring parliamentary candidate for Gomoa West, Blessed Godsbrain Smart, popularly known as Captain Smart.
Addressing the gathering, the Odikro of Gomoa Maim, Nana Oyanfo Ansah IX, who also serves as the Obaatan of the Assin Traditional Council, accused successive politicians of neglecting Gomoa communities.
According to the traditional leader, residents have endured years of unfulfilled promises while basic developmental needs remain unattended to.
He stressed that the people of Gomoa Maim would no longer tolerate what he described as political neglect and called on leaders to prioritize the welfare of the community.
Beyond the deteriorating school infrastructure, residents also highlighted several pressing developmental challenges confronting the community.
They appealed for the provision of employment opportunities for the youth, a health facility, access to potable drinking water, and an improved road network to facilitate the transportation of agricultural produce to markets.
Responding to the concerns, Captain Smart visited the Gomoa Maim D/A Junior High School to assess the condition of the building firsthand.
As an immediate intervention, he donated 50 bags of cement to support the renovation of the dilapidated school block, saying the contribution was aimed at helping provide a safer learning environment for the pupils while broader efforts are made to rehabilitate the facility.
He also pledged to construct an ultra-modern health facility for the people of Gomoa Maim if given the opportunity, explaining that the proposed hospital would be named after Agya Ahule, the founder who, according to him, sacrificed his life for the liberation and development of the Gomoa communities.
Captain Smart assured residents of his commitment to championing development projects that address the longstanding needs of the constituency, emphasizing that education, healthcare, and infrastructure would remain among his top priorities.
By Joseph Cobbina
