Dr Archibald Letsa cutting the sod
A boys’ dormitory valued at GH¢1.1 million would soon be constructed to accommodate students of Vakpo Senior High School (SHS) in the North Dayi District of the Volta Region.
The project, which is in fulfillment a promise made by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during the school’s 50th Anniversary in October last year, is expected to be completed in eight months’ time.
The single storey facility, when completed, will have 18 rooms, two box rooms, two ironing rooms, 10 washrooms and 12 bathrooms and toilets. It is expected to house over 250 boys.
This came to light when the Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa cut the sod for the construction of the boys’ dormitory recently.
He noted that the construction of the facility formed part of government’s agenda to improve infrastructure in many schools in deprived areas in the country to ensure the sustenance of the free Senior High School (SHS) policy.
He explained that after an assessment of the Free SHS policy last year, the President gave a directive for four schools to be selected in the region for special projects to address the numerous challenges.
So far, two projects have started-the administration block for Ntuoboman Senior High School (SHS) in Brewaniese and the boys’ dormitory for the Vakpo Senior High School (SHS).
He added that the two projects will soon commence and urged all and sundry to cooperate with government and the contractors to ensure value for money.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) of North Dayi, Edmund Attah Kudjoe, urged the staff and students to also give off their best in teaching and learning to put critics of the policy to shame.
He tasked the headmaster and the assembly member of the area to update him frequently to ensure value for money.
The headmaster, Charles Evans Apreku, was hopeful the contractor will be on schedule for the facility to be used in the 2018/2019 academic year since the current boys’ dormitory was a death trap.
He pledged to cooperate and maintain the project when completed.
He also thanked the PTA of the school for providing two-thirds of the school’s infrastructure.
Mr Apreku appealed to the Minister to use his good offices to persuade GETFund to complete the 12-unit classroom block, which is about 85 percent complete.
Vakpo Senior High School started with 32 students in 1965 as a community day school until it was absorbed as a public school on October 1970.
The school, which currently has about 1,000 students with about 150 teachers, could admit more students if the boys’ dormitory and classroom blocks are completed this year.
From Collins Anku, Vakpo (collinsselasime10@gmail.com)