Education Minister promises swift fix to Aburi Girls' SHS water crisis

Haruna Iddrisu assured the public that the government is taking swift action to address concerns at Aburi Girls' Senior High School. Speaking on Joy FM's Super Morning Show on Wednesday, April 8, the Minister responded to reports of water shortages and sanitation issues at the school, describing the situation as a matter of concern to both government and the Ghana Education Service (GES), but not as severe as widely portrayed. He said, "My attention has just been drawn to the developments at Aburi Girls' Senior High School, which is of concern to the government and the GES. We will work to remedy it as soon as possible."

Mr. Iddrisu explained that school authorities had already taken steps to manage the situation, particularly regarding faulty toilet facilities. He said that of the two toilet facilities, "One has been fixed. One is in the process of being repaired, and the repair work will be completed by the weekend." He acknowledged the concerns of parents and students, noting that the issue could affect academic activities if not resolved quickly. He also highlighted broader structural challenges facing the education sector, describing school infrastructure nationwide as being in a "dire state" requiring urgent attention.

As part of longer-term measures, the Minister revealed plans to establish a technical committee and secure funding to respond more effectively to emergencies in schools. The government is working with the Finance Ministry to allocate "2% of the GETFund formula to respond to site national emergencies." Mr. Iddrisu also referred to ongoing efforts to improve facilities in girls' schools, including ICT projects with integrated sanitation systems, and pointed to ongoing discussions to secure about $300 million from the World Bank to support infrastructure development in the education sector.