A contractor has locked out students and teachers at Tuvugu D/A Primary School in Zabzugu, Northern Region, over an unpaid debt of eight years.
The contractor, Mohammed Badaru, completed the six-unit classroom block in 2017 but has yet to receive payment from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
The unexpected scene unfolded on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, when the contractor arrived with padlocks, instructing teachers and students to vacate the premises.
The headteacher, along with the staff and pupils, expressed frustration over the situation, which has severely disrupted teaching and learning.
The District Director of Education described the situation as serious and in need of immediate attention.
According to Badaru, the project was completed in 2017 but has been waiting for payment from GETFund which he has yet to receive. The contractor claimed that he is deeply indebted to his suppliers, who are threatening legal action if he does not pay them.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Zabzugu, Ahmed Yussif Adarkwa, expressed disappointment over the contractor’s actions and described it as one made in bad faith.
He acknowledged delays in payment and the rising cost of materials but said he was not informed about the issue before it escalated.
The school remains locked, leaving students and teachers in limbo.
The DCE has promised to collaborate with the District Director of Education to find a temporary solution for the pupils.
Another school in Zabzugu, Friends of the Earth, has its upper-class pupils studying under trees due to a lack of classrooms.
The DCE assured that efforts are being made to secure a classroom block for the school.
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