By Daniel Bampoe
Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri and Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has accused the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Fummey Selorm Philibert, of obstructing emergency repair works at the Nsawam Presbyterian School following severe damage caused by a recent rainstorm.
According to the MP, the incident occurred after a torrential downpour ripped off portions of the roofing of the historic school, exposing classrooms and disrupting academic activities.
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh, who said he was out of the municipality on official assignment at the time, explained that he received distress calls from residents and school authorities regarding the extent of the damage.
Speaking on the matter, the MP stated that upon receiving the reports, he immediately activated efforts to provide emergency assistance to the school, which he described as an institution that holds a special place in his heart due to his longstanding support for its development.
He noted that over the years he has undertaken several projects at the school, including the donation of library books and other interventions aimed at improving teaching and learning conditions.
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh explained that he subsequently instructed a contractor who has worked with him on various constituency projects over the years to assess the damage and begin urgent rehabilitation works to prevent further deterioration of the affected structures.
According to him, he also informed the school’s headmaster and relevant education authorities about the planned intervention and assured them that the roofing problem would be addressed immediately.
The MP said the contractor arrived at the school with roofing materials and workers and had commenced work on replacing the damaged roof when events took an unexpected turn.
He alleged that the newly confirmed Municipal Chief Executive arrived at the school premises and issued instructions for the work to stop.
According to Mr. Annoh-Dompreh, the MCE did not come alone but was accompanied by individuals he described as party supporters, whose presence, he claimed, heightened tensions at the scene.
“The contractor had gone there with materials and workers and they were already putting on the new roof when they were told to stop. The MCE arrived and gave a counter-order,” the MP alleged.
He further claimed that the situation nearly degenerated into a confrontation between supporters aligned with him and individuals who accompanied the MCE to the school.
Fearing that the disagreement could escalate into violence, Mr. Annoh-Dompreh said he personally instructed his contractor to suspend the works temporarily in the interest of peace and public safety.
The Minority Chief Whip questioned why the Municipal Chief Executive would seek to halt work on the Nsawam Presbyterian School when several other schools in the municipality had also reportedly suffered damage from the same rainstorm.
He cited the Bishop Atuu School and other educational facilities within the municipality as institutions that were also affected by the heavy rains and required urgent attention.
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh expressed concern that what should have been a straightforward humanitarian intervention to protect schoolchildren from the effects of the rain had become a source of political controversy.
He maintained that both Members of Parliament and Municipal Chief Executives are public servants whose primary responsibility is to serve the people irrespective of political affiliation.
“I was voted for by the people, and the MCE was appointed through powers derived from the people. We are all public officers and should focus on serving the public rather than creating unnecessary divisions,” he stated.
The MP disclosed that he has formally reported the matter to the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and is expecting the Minister to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He expressed hope that the matter would be resolved amicably and cautioned against actions that could create avoidable tensions within the municipality.
The controversy comes barely weeks after Fummey Selorm Philibert was confirmed as the Municipal Chief Executive for the Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipal Assembly.
The incident has since generated widespread discussion among residents, with many calling on both the Assembly and the Member of Parliament to work together to ensure the damaged school infrastructure is repaired without delay.
