By Collins Sarkodieh 
The situation at the Ofankor St. Peter’s Anglican School compound has reached a critical stage. Despite ongoing community concerns, large sections of the school grounds remain submerged in stagnant water whenever it rains, creating an environment that is far from ideal for learning.
Pupils and teachers are forced to navigate this waterlogged facility daily, raising serious questions about safety and health standards. For over a year, this recurring issue has disrupted academic activities, yet a lasting resolution remains elusive.
Ofankor has long been identified as a flood-prone area, where choked and inadequate drainage systems often fail to manage heavy rainfall. This systemic infrastructure challenge impacts not just schools, but local businesses and residences across the Ga North Municipality.
Consider these essential insights regarding the flooding crisis and the path toward a safer learning environment:
- The recurring nature of the flooding is primarily attributed to undersized, poorly maintained, and choked drainage channels that cannot handle peak rainfall volumes.
- Rapid urban growth and an increase in impervious surfaces have overloaded existing drainage networks, a phenomenon frequently cited in urban flood studies.
- Local residents and community stakeholders have repeatedly called for major drainage expansion, noting that minor desilting efforts often prove insufficient during heavy storms.
- National authorities, including the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), prioritize community-based disaster risk reduction, yet the implementation of structural solutions remains a primary hurdle for many schools.
- Sustainable flood management requires a holistic approach that combines infrastructure investment with better enforcement of planning laws to prevent building on waterways.
It is truly disheartening to see students arrive at school only to find their compound turned into a pool. Education is a fundamental right, but it becomes difficult to focus on lessons when the physical environment itself poses a daily struggle against the elements.
While authorities continue to work on clearing blocked gutters, it is clear that these ad-hoc measures are not enough to protect institutions like St. Peter’s Anglican School. The school needs a permanent solution that secures the future of its pupils.
We hope that the relevant municipal and educational authorities take immediate notice of this situation. Investing in proper drainage and infrastructure now will save the community from the deeper social and economic costs of repeated flood disasters later.
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Source: myjoyonline.com