Residents of Bugzunde in the Kutanga Electoral Area, Bawku Municipality of the Upper East Region have expressed deep frustration over years of neglect, citing an uncompleted school project started in 2009, deplorable road networks, and a collapsed bridge that has cut them off from the Municipal capital Bawku town and adjoining communities.
According to the residents, construction of the Bugzunde Community School began in 2009 under the current MP for Bawku Central and Majority Leader in Parliament, Mahama Ayariga.
Some scenes from the uncompleted school project
17 years on, the project remains uncompleted and has not been handed over to the Municipal Assembly.
As a result, children and teachers are unable to access quality education. The classrooms have no furniture, no doors, and are left open for animals after school hours.
The community says the school also has only two government teachers. The rest are volunteer teachers paid by the community, placing an extra financial burden on residents.
The uncompleted school project
“I started teaching at Bugzunde Community School when I was in Senior High School. Anytime I think of the children, I feel very worried. That is what always makes me go back to school to teach these children as a volunteer. Abraham Akudaago started ”
“We experience waist pain because we have no furniture to sit on. We always sit on the floor to learn every day. Said by a basic four (4) students of the Bukzunde Community School ”
The community noted that Bugzunde faces several challenges, including a bad road network, a lack of access to essential healthcare, a lack of clean water, and a lack of teachers.
The pupils have no choice but…
Residents lamented that whenever it rains, the stream linking Bugzunde Community to Zuku Community and other nearby communities overflows and completely cuts off the Bugzunde community from other communities, making life unbearable for residents and road users.
The people of Bugzunde are appealing to Government, the Ministry of Roads and Highways, their member of Parliament for Bawku Central Mahama Ayariga, and the Municipal Chief Executive for Bawku, Azunaba Isaac to as a matter of urgency, prioritize their needs.
They are specifically calling for the immediate completion of the school project with furniture and teaching materials and the construction of a proper road and bridge to link them to Bawku and nearby communities.
Story by: Iddrisu Kassim
