In the Birim North Assembly of the Eastern Region, illegal miners, locally known as “galamsey,” have taken over the compound of the Pankese M/A Junior High School (JHS), jeopardizing the safety of students and disrupting their education. These miners are digging near the school, affecting the land that was previously reserved for agricultural lessons and other practical activities.
The situation has escalated to the point where some students are participating in these illegal mining activities, sneaking out of school to join the miners after classes. The headmaster, Prince Amoako, expressed concerns about the risks to students’ safety and the adverse impact on their learning environment. Despite efforts to stop the miners, the situation remains unresolved.
The School Management Committee Chairman, Noah Addo, raised further alarms about the demolished school urinal and the lack of promises from authorities to rebuild it. With the mining activity encroaching on the school grounds, there is fear that more students will be tempted to join the illegal activity, exacerbating the issue.
To mitigate the situation, Afrifa Gyasi Bismarck, the School Improvement Support Officer, proposed fencing the school to prevent students from leaving during school hours. He stressed that illegal mining activities were a major hindrance to education in Pankese. The community is calling for immediate intervention to ensure the safety and well-being of the students.
