Pong-Tamale, Ghana – Member of Parliament for the Savelugu Constituency, Abdul Samed Gunu and the Savelugu Municipal Chief Executive, Hajia Ayishetu Seidu have paid a visit to the Pong-Tamale Senior High School (PONGTASS) to have a first hand view of the destructions that were caused by a fire that gutted parts of the school infrastructure.
A fire outbreak around 11:30am at the girls’ dormitory Monday, April 09, destroyed the facility and valuables such as textbooks and clothings of some 692 girls.
Eyewitnesses said it took personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service some time to extinguish the flames, which spread through the 12-room dormitory facility and left both students and school authorities distressed.
Speaking exclusively to Might FM during a visit to the school with personnel from the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Mr. Abdul Samed Gunu whilst appealing to “benevolent organizations to partner with NADMO to fast track the rehabilitation of the dormitory” said the extent of damage was quiet huge and government would need an external support.
“It is rather unfortunate at the time that government is yearning for facilities for boarding schools to be able to meet the increasing number of students’ intake, that this should happen” he lamented.
On her part, the Municipal Chief Executive, Hajia Ayishetu Seidu expressed hope that development partners in the constituency would come to the aid of the school, adding, “ considering the season in which we are, you can imagine what these ladies are going through. I think the earlier we do something about it, the better.”
Headmistress of Pong-Tamale SHS, Mrs. Margaret Gbande, said the incident was affecting academic activities and appealed to government and other stakeholders to come to the aid of the School.
She said although the incident occurred when the students were on vacation, final-year students, who were writing their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), were in dire need of some key items destroyed by the fire since it would give them a stable mind to concentrate and study for their final examination.
By Savannahnewsonline.com