News
OLA SHS teachers under threat…as robbers ‘raid’ school
Teachers of OLA Senior High School, Ho, have been living in fear and anxiety for the past three months.
This follows persistent raid on their bungalows by robbers.
There have been about 15 cases of break-ins and stealing of personal items at teachers’ bungalows on campus since October, this year.
Some of the terrified teachers, who spoke to The Spectator on Monday, said that the robbers, who operated day and night, often gained access to the school by scaling a portion of the perimeter fence wall near the Galenku Hill.
“They usually strike during class hours when teachers were not at home,” a source told The Spectator.
In most cases, the burglars took away cooking utensils and harvested vegetables from the gardens of the teachers.
In one instance, they stole more than 50 fowls from the poultry coop of a teacher, and went further to steal fish and other food items from the kitchen of other teachers.
Worse, still the thieves sometimes left notes that read ‘Rest in Peace” on the doors of their victims.
According to the teacher, sometimes the robbers were spotted fleeing with dangerous weapons like cutlasses and metal bars in hand, which made them very dangerous to approach and apprehend.
“Now, we do not know whether the robbers will soon extend their nefarious activities to the dormitories of the students,” one of the teachers whose house was burgled five times during the period said.
According to him, an intruder who attempted to break into his bungalow recently during the day time, was arrested and handed over to the police, but the suspect was later released for lack of evidence.
Meanwhile, some teachers who can no longer put up with the trend are making frantic efforts to vacate their bungalows, and rent rooms in town.
When contacted on phone, the headmistress, Madam Regina Coffie confirmed the story and said that “thieves are harassing us.”
But she later cancelled an appointment with this reporter for a briefing on the issue.
On his part, the Ho Municipal Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Alex Adade Yeboah said that the cases were being looked into and that officers had mounted a search for the culprits, in addition to day and night patrols around the school.
Pix: OLA Senior High School, Ho
AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine has broken ground on a modern 1,500-seater multipurpose assembly hall and a secured main gatehouse for New Edubiase Senior High School, in the Adansi South District.
The project, being executed by local contractor AA Engineering and Construction, is expected to be completed within 17 months and forms part of the Mine’s 10-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) — a strategic framework for delivering sustainable development in its host communities.
Beyond the expansive assembly hall, the facility will house a fully integrated administrative complex featuring a dedicated sound room, a 16-seater staff eatery, and suites for the Headmaster and Assistant Headmaster, a bursar’s office, an 18-seater conference room, a 24-seater staff common room, six faculty office spaces and ancillary stores and washrooms.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, the Mine’s Director of Sustainability Management, Edmund Oduro Agyei, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to improving educational outcomes in host communities through impactful and sustainable investments.
The Edubiasehene, Guahyia Oduropanin Birikorang, commended the Mine for the investment, saying the project demonstrated that the company’s development agenda extended well beyond its immediate operational areas.
The Headmaster of New Edubiase SHS, Mr Christopher Appiah Mensah, described the intervention as timely and transformative, noting it would address longstanding infrastructure deficits, improve conditions for teaching and learning, and create adequate space for academic and social gatherings.
“This will greatly enhance administrative efficiency and improve the overall welfare of both staff and students,” he said.
The facility is also expected to boost the school’s capacity to host national examinations and major events, and strengthen its standing as a centre of academic excellence within the district.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
Stakeholders have been urged to help raise awareness and eliminate the stigma often associated with clubfoot, a treatable condition which occurs in children.
Parents are to seek early treatment for the condition while policymakers strengthen support for early detection, disability inclusion, and child health services in the country.
Clubfoot is a condition present at birth in which one or both feet are twisted inward and downward. If left untreated, experts say a child may face lifelong challenges with walking, which could affect education, employment, and social inclusion.
In Ghana, an estimated 1,000 babies are said to be born with clubfoot every year.
In commemoration of the World Clubfoot Day, marked on June 3 every year, stakeholders create awareness about the condition and, among other things, celebrate the dedication of health professionals who ensure children receive treatment.
In a release copied to the Ghana News Agency, Nana Afua Adutwumwaa Adjetey, Programme Manager, Ghana Clubfoot Programme, noted that many families were unaware of the free treatment available for the condition in Ghana. 
She observed that the lack of awareness continued to delay treatment for children who could have received prompt and life-changing care at no cost.
Treatment, she said, was provided free of charge for children under age five at Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG–Hope Walks) partner clinics across the country.
More than 9,000 children born with clubfoot had received treatment and care through the programme over the past 18 years.
“The treatment follows the internationally recognised Ponseti Method, which uses a series of gentle casts to gradually correct the position of the foot, followed by a brace to maintain correction and prevent relapse. When treatment begins early, success rates are extremely high,” Madam Adjetey explained.
“For many children, the journey begins with a health worker who identifies clubfoot at birth and makes a referral. A few moments of observation can change the course of a child’s life forever.”
“Clubfoot is not a curse; it is not caused by wrongdoing…it is a medical condition that can be treated successfully. Families should never feel ashamed to seek help.”
The Programme Manager said children born with the condition deserved equal opportunities, dignity, and inclusion, and called on communities to support parents rather than “judge them.” -GNA
