Member of parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has commended Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum and delegation from the Ministry of Education on their assessment of the impact of Akosombo dam spillage on education.
According to him, the visit by the education ministry to the flooded communities especially when it comes to the truncated education of children is a first step to addressing the challenge that confronts schools in general.
He equally expressed gratitude to the leadership of Parliament’s Education Committee for their keen interest and on-the-ground oversight.
“I commend the Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum and his delegation from the Ministry of Education for coming to assess the impact of the VRA-induced floods on education, and for exploring with stakeholders what needs to be done for academic work to resume.”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Furthermore, Mr Ablakwa thanked the education minister for his generous donation of 200 bags of rice to support affected teachers.
Ultimately, he underscored the need for government and well-meaning Ghanaians to help find decent alternative housing so displaced persons in these 21 camps created in schools can be relocated for the resumption of formal teaching and learning.
The North Tongu legislator emphasized that “no child must be left behind”.
Education ministry assures mitigation of learning losses
Meanwhile, deputy minister for education, John Ntim Fordjour, has assured that measures are being put in place to mitigate learning losses occasioned by the floods.
He noted that the ministry is also focused on ensuring that a conducive environment is created in the affected areas for school-going children.
“We are going to continue deliberations from our fact-finding report we obtained from all the assessments that have been done. Considering all the brilliant ideas that stakeholders have suggested, we will arrive at something workable and appropriate to ensure that the learning losses that may be occasioned by the flooding and this disaster are mitigated to a large extent.
“Whatever custom-made approach we need to make within the shortest possible time, we will ensure that learning environments are created in affected areas. That is what our focus is on.”
John Ntim Fordjour
Furthermore, Rev. Fordjour noted that learning continues unabated, although there are extreme cases where some areas hardest hit by the floods leading to schools and homes being submerged have halted for the time being. With this, he explained that a workable plan is being considered to suit all students in affected areas.
“At this moment, it will be very early to arrive at a specific option, because you have a combination of options that may work for certain parts of the affected areas. There will be some decisions that may not be prudent for certain parts of the affected areas.
“So, whatever comprehensive plan that we are going to put in place in the long term, will be a combination of some of these options that we are considering. All these are very viable and tenable suggestions that we are taking all in good faith.”
John Ntim Fordjour
Elsewhere, waste management company, Zoomlion Ghana Ltd, has donated items worth over GHC500,000 to support victims of the Akosombo dam spillage.
The items include waste bins, plastic buckets, brooms and other sanitary items to aid in maintaining a clean environment.
The company also donated food items such as rice and cooking oil, canned fish and water, as well as safety jackets, mosquito nets and aqua tabs to help in ensuring the safety of residents.
Managing Director of Zoomlion, Mrs. Gloria Opoku Anti presenting the items at the National Emergency Centre at North Tongu District Assembly in the Volta region to the victims of the dam spillage, revealed that good sanitary environment, clean water, safety and sustenance are essential for survival and well-being, hence the company’s decision to support the victims in that regard.
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