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Wee smokers invade Swedru Methodist Basic School … turn classrooms into hideouts, toilets
Nana Efua Esaaba, Headmistress of Agona Swedru Methodist Basic School, has appealed to old students, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), advocacy groups and citizens of Agonaman to support the school with metal doors and burglar-proof windows to protect its classrooms from intruders.
She said the intervention would help prevent suspected wee smokers and other miscreants from breaking into the school and using the classrooms as hideouts and places of convenience.
According to the Headmistress, the intruders had destroyed all the wooden classroom doors, removed window louvre blades and defecated in some of the classrooms.
Nana Esaaba told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that when she assumed office in 2022, she was confronted with the unpleasant situation of finding human faeces on teachers’ tables.
She said the situation had worsened over the years, adding that about a year after she took office, unknown persons cut electricity cables connected to high-tension poles near the school, plunging the school and its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre into darkness.
The Headmistress said the suspects had also broken into her office and stolen government textbooks and other personal belongings, forcing her to permanently close one of the office windows to prevent further attacks.
She noted that louvre blades installed at the school’s science laboratory, constructed by the Rotary Club, had also been removed by the miscreants.
Nana Esaaba noted that the timely intervention of some passers-by about two weeks ago prevented suspected wee smokers from removing roofing sheets from one of the school buildings.
She explained that reports on the incidents had been submitted to the Agona West Municipal Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) for onward transmission to the Central Regional Office and the GES Headquarters in Accra, but the school was yet to receive assistance.
Furthermore, the Headmistress said in an effort to protect the school’s property, she and her management team had engaged the services of a private security guard at their own expense, but the problem persisted.
She appealed to police patrol teams from the Agona West District and Divisional Commands to intensify day and night patrols around the school campus to deter criminal activities.
Nana Esaaba also appealed to the Agona West Municipal Assembly to support efforts to secure the school environment.
Moreover, she called for the provision of additional furniture for both teachers and pupils, citing an increase in the school’s population. –GNA
Medical Doctor and dietician, Dr Bernice Korkor Asare, has urged women to take greater responsibility for their lifestyle choices, particularly their eating habits and levels of physical activity, to help reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
According to her, although, some breast cancer risk factors, such as family history and certain reproductive factors, may not be within an individual’s control, lifestyle choices offer an opportunity for people to take preventive action.
She made this known during a talk on the topic: “Role of diet in breast cancer prevention” organised by Times Ladies Association of the New Times Corporation, publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator, in Accra on Thursday.
The event themed “Breast Cancer Awareness- Promoting Early Detection, Healthy Eating and Prevention.” 
She noted that having a risk factor did not automatically mean a person would develop breast cancer, but could increase the likelihood of developing the disease compared with someone without that particular risk factor.
“Having close relatives who have had breast cancer, particularly a mother, sister or daughter, may increase the risk, although not everyone with a family history will develop the disease,” Dr Asare opined. Read More.
By Adizatu K. Munkaila
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A group of compassionate friends from Innovation Gospel Impact last Friday visited the management, teachers and learners of the Street Academy in Accra.
The visit was to interact to get a deeper insight into the operations of the Academy that houses hundreds of street and underprivileged children and find ways to support them.
The team was led by Rev. Dr Isaac Apenteng Yeboah, a former Director for West African Mailbox Club and Director for Prisons Support Foundation, and Rev. Dale Sutherland from Washington DC.
The call, according to the visitors was occasioned by reports about the struggles of the Academy despite the occasional support it enjoys from individuals and some corporate entities.
Briefing them, the Founder and Executive Director of the Academy, Dr Ataa Lartey, thanked them for the concern showed, indicating that “this is a major boost for both teachers and learners; knowing that their plight is known by people outside their premises.”
According Dr Lartey, the Academy had planned to undertake a number of project to enhance teaching and learning and also procure facilities for the children with keen interest in sports but had to shelve those plans for lack of finance.
He told the team that their biggest concerns were the monthly utility bills that takes a toll on their finances.
“We have a piece of land we planned to turn into an astro turf pitch to train the younger ones whose interests lies in making a career out of football, however, we have been unable to commence because there is no money now,” he said.
Dr Lartey expressed gratitude to the teachers who have dedicated their lives to training these children, rather than going for well-paying jobs and hoped that with time, their conditions of engagement would improve.
Moved by the plight of the Academy, the group donated a cash amount of Gh₵3,000 to settle its water bills.
They described as unfortunate the conditions of learners and teachers of the Academy and pledged to continuously support their operations to realize the dream to build a better future for the unfortunate children.
The group offered to support the school with its monthly utility bills, feeding and staff allowance and urged the Academy staff to remain in constant touch with them.
The Street Academy is located at the Accra Art Center and offers brilliant but needy the chance to pursue their educational dreams by enrolling them in public schools with others offered training in sports and cultural activities.
By Spectator Reporter
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