PROTECT OUR SCHOOL LANDS (FEB 2, 2010)

THE Ministry of Education has been grappling with the challenges posed by encroachment on school lands throughout the country.
The problem is most pronounced in the cities and regional capitals where developers want access to land in prime areas, including school lands.
In some cases, school authorities have not secured these lands by paying compensation to landowners and erecting walls to prevent encroachment.
The government, time and again, has warned the encroachers to stay clear of school lands but to no avail. some unscrupulous developers have also been emboldened by the government’s inaction to step up their activities.
It appears mere warning will not prick the conscience of the encroachers to desist from their unpatriotic deeds and so there is the need for more drastic action to decisively deal with this attitude.
Recently, the Ministry of Education announced plans to undertake an exercise to reclaim and protect school lands that have been encroached upon.
The programme, which is to be executed in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, will also involve traditional rulers and district assemblies.
Indeed, the support of all the stakeholders is required if the exercise to reclaim school lands is to be successful because very influential members of society are involved in the unauthorised development of structures on school lands.
Many concerned citizens are wondering why the government develops cold feet whenever it has to impose sanctions on influential people. The marginalised are hardly notified before their structures are pulled down, except those who get wind of the demolition and seek court intervention.
The Daily Graphic is worried about the news that the encroachment on Achimota School land poses danger to the health of the students.
Achimota School is facing serious encroachment on its land, which has resulted in the continued spillage of waste from the school’s sewerage system, thus posing a health hazard to the students.
Even before the authorities could undertake the reclaiming exercise, the situation of encroachment at Achimota School had compelled the Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA) to order the immediate closure of the school.
The Daily Graphic is aware that some of the claims to the school lands are before the law courts but we appeal to the litigants to help the courts to expedite action on the adjudication of the cases.
We think that while teachers, classrooms, books and other materials are needed for effective teaching and learning, the health of the schoolchildren and staff cannot be compromised because it is acknowledged that “a healthy mind is in a healthy body”.
The Daily Graphic urges developers to desist from encroaching on school lands for personal gain because all public schools belong to the people and nothing should be done to further undermine the educational system.
However, we think the responsibility for protecting school lands lies with the authorities who should ensure that state property, including school lands, is protected for the good of society
The Daily Graphic, therefore, calls on the authorities to act fast before the unexpected happens to students of Achimota School and other schools under siege by developers.