Students of Lassia Tuolu Senior High School in the Wa West District of the Upper West Region currently take their meals in the open, under teak trees.
This followed the destruction of their dining hall complex by a fire outbreak on March 10 this year, compelling kitchen staff to prepare meals in a makeshift structure whilst students also eat in the open.
It has been over two months now since the inferno ravaged the school multi-purpose hall and kitchen and got their newly constructed desks and dining tables, as well as some assorted food items belonging to the school’s kitchen all burnt to ashes.
Emmanuel Banongwie, headmaster of the school, while acknowledging the support from individuals and groups following the incident said the central government through GETFUND awarded a contract for the construction of a new dining hall for the school, which he indicated has just started and is still at the footing levels.
He said though work is progressing steadily, he would like to appeal for the provision of a temporal structure to be used as kitchen and dining to avoid the likelihood of students missing their meals since the rainy season has just set in.
In a notable support to their alma mater, the alums of the school – Lassia Tuolu Senior High School Past Students Association (LAPSA), spanning from 1997 to 2023 came together to raise about GHc75,000.00 of which an amount of ¢68,718.00 Ghana Cedis was used to support the immediate needs of their alma mater.
“We are pleased to announce that Ghc68,718.00 had been realized from our contributions for the purchase of the following items; 250 serving pans with lids, rehabilitation of two push trucks with tyres, a tricycle, one roaster, two barrel drums, two big size veronica containers, four aluminium basins.
The rest are: two size-60 cooking pots, two size-40 cooking pots, two size-30 cooking pots with lids, four thick rubber basins, mortar and pestles, and a set of entertainment gadgets which will be delivered in the course of the week,” he enumerated.
In a speech read on behalf of the President of LAPSA, Kombanpuo Martin Lucas, stated that their tenure within the hallowed halls of Lassia Tuolu has left an indelible impression on them, as it is within these sacred walls that they acquired a sound education, forged enduring friendships, while acquiring imbibed invaluable wisdom thereof.
The association also expressed concern about the manner in which the students take their meals coupled with the condition in which meals are now prepared.
“As past students, we acknowledge and appreciate the on-going construction of a new dining hall by government. However, there is no proper place to prepare students’ meals. There is also no temporal structure for students to take their meals. This poses a major challenge to the kitchen staff and students once the rains begin,” they reiterated.
They are therefore calling on government, individuals and philanthropists to step in to forestall this eminent challenge.
