Following a series of reports done by Citi FM, highlighting myriads of issues bedeviling students at the Kibi School for the Deaf in the Eastern region, government has finally responded.
[contextly_sidebar id=”Y6NzH2kMDp23gjSo9qC4grW7WHXFLCqG”]The school with a population of over 200 students hitherto was faced with a number of challenges spanning from non-payment of electricity bills to non-payment of Grants.
Two weeks ago, the school had their power cut by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) because it owed the power distributor a little over five thousand Ghana cedis in unsettled arrears.
Students and school authorities as a result were forced to share refrigerators with a neighbouring school; the Abuakwa State College, a situation that was an inconvenience to students.
Subsequently, the Deputy Eastern regional minister, Mavis Ama Frimpong together with the District Chief Executive for the East Akyem, Simon Asirifi, directed that the said amount owed ECG be taken from the MP’s Common Fund to settle the debt.
After the GH¢ 5,000 cheque was issued, a jubilant Mr. Appiah told Citi News on Thursday that, “The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mavis Ama Frimpong and the District Chief Executive for the East Akyem, Simon Asirifi paid a familiarization visit to our school (Kibi School for the Deaf) and I believe that it was also because of the series of reports you (CITI FM) had done to put a spot light on the challenges the school was faced with.”
Before government responded, the Accountant at the school Bismark Appiah lamented: “Our school solely depends on government grants, but since October, 2014, no money has come from the government, worsening our already terrible situation.’’
“Our bags of rice are almost finished and no help seems to come from anywhere. We owe food supplies a lot of money and they have refused to continue to supply the food until all outstanding debts are paid. He went on: “to make matters worse we are in total darkness because we owe the ECG just a little over five thousand Ghana Cedis.”
Mr. Appiah added that their school bus had also broken down making transporting sick students to hospitals very difficult.
Mr Appiah was however hopeful that the government would pay their grants soon.
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Pearl Akanya Ofori/citifmonline.com/Ghana