UEW Dean gives back to hometown, supports classroom project in Northern Ghana

The Dean of the Faculty of Ghanaian Languages Education at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Professor Samuel Alhassan Issah, has extended vital support to address the infrastructural challenges facing Tampion Kukuo, a peri-urban community in the Northern Region.

Like many communities in northern Ghana, Tampion Kukuo grapples with inadequate educational infrastructure. For years, the construction of a three-unit classroom block meant to ease congestion in the local school had stalled due to a lack of funds.

In response, Prof. Issah, himself a product of the community’s primary school, mobilised GHC 15,000 through his network of friends to facilitate the roofing of the structure.

At a ceremony attended by chiefs, elders, teachers, headteachers, parents, and residents, Prof. Issah officially handed over the funds to the project managers to aid in the completion of the classroom block.

The gesture was met with widespread appreciation from local education stakeholders. The Circuit Supervisor of the Ghana Education Service (GES), alongside the headteachers of the Primary and Junior High Schools, praised the intervention, noting that it would help decongest classrooms and improve the learning environment.

“The lack of classroom space has been a major challenge for us. Some pupils sit under trees to learn, while others are crammed into small rooms. This support from Prof. Issah is a game-changer,” said Mr Issah Sulemana, Headteacher of the Primary School.

Also present at the event was the Principal of Bagabaga College of Education, Prof. Gazali Issahaku, who pledged to support the school with teacher trainees to enhance teaching and learning.

In a related discussion, Madam Monica Issah, a staff member of the GES, urged lactating teachers to seek appropriate support for their babies rather than bringing them into classrooms while teaching, stressing that such practices can compromise the quality of education.

Reflecting on his motivation for the initiative, Prof. Issah recounted his early experiences in the community, including the daily struggle of walking several kilometres to school.

“I am who I am today because of this community. It is only right that I give back and help create better opportunities for the younger generation. I sincerely thank all my friends and colleagues who contributed to making this possible,” he said.

Prof. Issah’s intervention underscores the broader issue of inadequate educational infrastructure across many rural and peri-urban areas in Ghana. Across the country, numerous schools remain in dire need of classrooms, furniture, and teaching materials.

The story of Tampion Kukuo serves as a timely reminder and call to action for other influential individuals to invest in their hometowns and contribute to bridging Ghana’s education gap. As education remains a key driver of national development, such community-led efforts are critical in ensuring that every child, regardless of location, has access to quality learning conditions.

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