For months, school-going children in the rural farming community of Balana in the Sekyere Central District of Ashanti Region have been deprived of education as teachers continue to boycott classes, citing the lack of access to clean drinking water as their primary grievance.
With no clean water sources, residents rely on unsafe alternatives, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. They either source water – yellow in colour – from dried up dam or access it from deep gullies created in the middle of a road.
“This is the water we rely on for both drinking purposes and domestic use. Yet, this even dries up in the dry season forcing us to trek 4 miles to get water”, a pregnant woman laments.
*No Water, No School*
Access to quality education is a right for every Ghanaian child as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution of the country, but the children in Balana are being denied this right.
As evident on the board in class four of the Balana D/A primary, the last time a teacher set foot in the class to teacher was on the 20th of January, 2024. The school has been left without teachers for more than a year.
The situation has left hundreds of students in limbo, with many making the daily trek to school only to return home disappointed after finding no teacher present.
“We show up in school every morning with the hope of meeting our teachers, but they don’t come”, 10-year-old Isaac Danaa, a visibly worried class 4 pupil said.
The absence of teachers has compelled some of the children to join their parents to farm whilst anxiously waiting for the return of the educators. Bridget Majembik, a class 5 pupil who wishes to achieve higher education and become a healthcare professional indicated that “with no teachers, some of us have no option than to be on the farm every day.
Head teacher of the school, Saalu’u Abdulai, was posted in the school in September 2024 but said “school was not in session” when he reported.
He admits that “it’s difficult to convince teachers to stay in this community because access to clean water is a huge problem here. Teachers are ready to show up if they are assured of potable water.”
This has paralyzed learning in the community, leaving parents frustrated and children without access to formal education.
Comfort Yeboah, a parent, stated that “it’s quite worrying that to us that the children are been denied education”.
The community is concerned that, the prolonged education shutdown threatens the future of their children as their hope keeps dashing every second.
“For now, what we need is the return of teachers in this community and when they come, we as community members will also try and offer them the support we can, else our kids would be left behind,” Isaac Beyame, a troubled parent uttered.
Despite repeated appeals from community leaders, local education officials have not provided a lasting solution. Assembly member of the area accused duty-bearers of neglecting the community.
“Most of the district’s food stuff is from Balana and its adjoining communities yet the town has been sidelined by successive governments. No water, no road, no health facility, and now no school. Are residents here not part of Ghana?, Seth Dapaah, Assembly member for Birem electoral area, queried.
Local education official’s response
When contacted, the Sekyere Central District Education Directorate acknowledged the crisis but said discussions were ongoing to resolve the issue. However, no timeline has been given for teachers’ return.
“We are aware of the disturbing situation, and we have sent letters to the District Assembly to ensure at least a borehole facility is provided in the community. If we are able solve the water problem, it will bring back to life the operation of the school. We are also trying to engage some youth in the community who have shown their willingness to volunteer and support with the teaching. It is not best to allow teaching and learning to come to a halt for such a long time”, Ibrahim Yaw Adams, Public Relations Officer of Sekyere Central Education Directorate bemoaned.
The Sustainable Development Goal 4 also targets access to quality education for all by 2030. But will Ghana be able to achieve this target when school-going children in communities like Balana are struggling to even get a teacher?
Denying these children education violates their fundamental rights. For now, the children of Balana remain in limbo—their futures uncertain as they wait for a solution.
