Bekwai MP Visits Storm-Damaged Schools, Pledges Rapid Reconstruction Support

Published: February 12, 2026 | Source: Life Pulse Daily

Introduction

A severe rainstorm that struck Ghana’s Ashanti Region on February 8, 2026, has caused significant damage to educational infrastructure in the Bekwai Constituency. In response, the Member of Parliament for the area, Ralph Poku-Adusei, conducted an urgent on-site assessment on February 11, 2026. He visited multiple affected learning institutions, including the Denyaseman Catholic Senior High School (SHS) in Poano, where a classroom block partially collapsed. The MP has pledged immediate financial and logistical support for reconstruction, drawing on his Common Fund allocation channeled through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund). This incident underscores the growing vulnerability of school infrastructure to extreme weather events and the critical importance of rapid political and administrative response in safeguarding education continuity.

Key Points

Event: A heavy rainstorm with destructive winds hit the Bekwai area on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
Primary Damage: Denyaseman Catholic SHS suffered a partial collapse of a classroom block. Roofing sheets were torn off, walls weakened, and debris scattered, destroying furniture, learning materials, and books.
Other Affected Institutions: Huntado Kindergarten and the Behenase cluster of schools also reported structural damage.
Immediate Consequence: Students and teachers have abandoned affected classrooms due to safety fears, disrupting academic activities.
Casualties: Thankfully, no injuries or fatalities among students or staff were reported.
Assessment Visit: MP Ralph Poku-Adusei, accompanied by the Municipal Education Director, NPP Constituency Chairman, and other officials, inspected the damage on February 11, 2026.
Pledge: He committed to fast-tracking the release of resources from his Common Fund via GETFund to repair and rebuild the damaged school facilities.
Goal: To restore a safe and conducive learning environment swiftly and prevent prolonged educational disruption.
Reaction: School authorities and community members commended the MP’s prompt action as a strong demonstration of his commitment to education and constituent welfare.

Background

Geographic and Climatic Context

The Bekwai Constituency is located in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, an area historically prone to intense seasonal rainfall. However, the frequency and severity of such storms are increasingly linked to broader climate change patterns affecting West Africa. The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) often issues warnings for severe weather during the major rainy seasons (March-July and September-November), but localized, high-intensity downpours can occur with little warning, posing significant risks to infrastructure not built to modern resilience standards.

Ghana’s Educational Infrastructure Challenge

Ghana’s public school infrastructure faces chronic challenges, including aging buildings, inadequate maintenance, and, in some rural areas, substandard construction materials. The Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ministry of Education have ongoing programs to address these issues, but funding gaps are persistent. The Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) is a critical financing mechanism established by an Act of Parliament (GETFund Act, 2000 – Act 581) to provide supplementary funding for education at all levels. It pools resources from government allocations, donor support, and internally generated funds to finance infrastructure, scholarships, and research. MPs often have access to a Common Fund (formally the District Assemblies Common Fund – DACF) which they can allocate to constituency development projects, including school repairs, following prescribed guidelines.

Analysis

Immediate Impact on Education Continuity

The destruction of classrooms directly interrupts the teaching and learning process. For students preparing for exams, such as the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), any lost instructional time can have severe academic repercussions. The psychological impact on students and teachers witnessing the collapse of their learning space cannot be understated, potentially affecting morale and concentration. The displacement creates immediate logistical challenges: finding temporary classroom space, managing overcrowding, and ensuring the security of salvaged educational materials.

The Role of Political Representation in Crisis Response

The MP’s swift visit and pledge serve multiple functions. Firstly, it provides visible leadership and reassurance to a distressed community. Secondly, it facilitates a firsthand assessment, which is crucial for accurate damage valuation and prioritization. Thirdly, it initiates the bureaucratic process for fund release. By explicitly mentioning GETFund, the MP is signaling a planned, institutional channel for support rather than an ad-hoc handout, which promotes accountability and transparency. However, the effectiveness of this pledge hinges on the speed of GETFund’s disbursement procedures and the capacity of the Municipal Education Directorate to manage the reconstruction project without delays or cost inflation.

Systemic Vulnerabilities and Long-Term Implications

While the immediate response is commendable, the incident points to systemic issues:

Building Codes and Standards: Were the destroyed structures built to withstand typical regional weather loads? Enforcement of building codes for public institutions is often weak.
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in School Planning: Is there a systematic integration of climate resilience into school infrastructure planning and budgeting?
Maintenance Culture: Could regular maintenance have identified structural weaknesses before the storm?
Insurance Coverage: Are public school assets insured against such eventualities to enable immediate recovery without solely relying on political allocations?

Without addressing these root causes, communities remain in a cycle of damage, reaction, and reconstruction, diverting funds from other educational needs.

Practical Advice

For School Authorities and the Municipal Education Directorate

Conduct a Full Safety Audit: Immediately inspect all school buildings, not just the visibly damaged ones, to identify latent structural risks.
Secure the Site: Cordon off dangerous areas to prevent student and staff access.
Document Everything: Take comprehensive photographs and videos of all damage. Prepare a detailed, itemized cost estimate for repairs and reconstruction, certified by a qualified quantity surveyor or engineer.
Develop a Temporary Learning Plan: Arrange for alternative spaces (e.g., community centers, other school blocks, temporary shelters) to minimize learning loss. Implement shift systems if space is limited.
Engage with GETFund Early: Submit the formal application with all supporting documents (damage report, cost estimates, BOQs) to the GETFund Secretariat without delay, following the MP’s pledge.
Community Engagement: Involve Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and local communities in monitoring the reconstruction process to ensure quality and value for money.

For the Member of Parliament and Constituency Office

Follow-Up Mechanism: Establish a clear timeline with the Municipal Education Director and GETFund for fund disbursement and project commencement.
Transparency: Publicly communicate the pledged amount (if possible), the approved work plan, and the contracting process to maintain public trust.
Advocacy: Use this incident to advocate at the Ministry of Education and Parliamentary level for increased budgetary allocations for resilient school infrastructure across the region and nation.
Explore Supplementary Support: Mobilize additional resources from NGOs, corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives of local businesses, and diaspora groups to accelerate the process.

For Parents and the Community

Vigilance: Monitor the safety of all school buildings and report any concerns immediately to school authorities or the Municipal Assembly.
Support: Offer voluntary support for temporary setups, such as moving furniture or providing basic supplies.
Hold Leaders Accountable: Constructively engage with the MP’s office and the Municipal Assembly to get updates on the reconstruction timeline.

FAQ

What is GETFund and how does it disburse funds for school projects?

GETFund is a public trust established to mobilize and manage funds for the development of education in Ghana. It receives a percentage of Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, among other sources. For constituency-level projects like this, an MP typically submits a project proposal through the appropriate channels (often involving the Ministry of Education and the GETFund Secretariat). The proposal is assessed, a funding agreement is signed, and funds are released in tranches based on verified progress reports from implementing agencies like the Ghana Education Service or the Municipal Assembly’s Works Department.

What happens to the students’ education while the school is being repaired?

The Municipal Education Directorate, in consultation with school management, is responsible for arranging temporary learning spaces. This could involve sharing facilities with other less-affected schools (double-shift system), using community halls, or erecting temporary structures. The goal is to minimize disruption, but some learning loss is inevitable. The MP’s pledge aims to shorten this disruption period significantly.

Who is responsible for ensuring new school buildings are storm-resistant?

The ultimate responsibility lies with the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service, which set the building standards and specifications for all public school projects. The District Assemblies and Municipal/Metropolitan Assemblies act as implementing agencies and are responsible for ensuring contractors adhere to these standards. The Architects and Engineering Services Council (AESC) regulates the professional practice of architecture and engineering, including design compliance. For projects funded by GETFund or other state agencies, compliance with the Ghana Building Code and specific GES school designs is mandatory.

Can the community hold the MP accountable if the repairs are not done?

Yes. As an elected representative, the MP is accountable to his constituents. Once a public pledge is made, community members and the media can track the progress. The MP’s office should provide periodic updates. If funds are allocated but projects stall, inquiries can be made to the MP, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), the Municipal Education Director, and the GETFund Secretariat. The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament also has oversight on the use of public funds, including GETFund allocations.

Are there insurance policies for public school buildings against such disasters?

This is a complex area. Historically, most public assets in Ghana, including schools, have not been comprehensively insured. However, there is a growing policy conversation about this. The National Insurance Commission (NIC) regulates the industry. Some pilot schemes and specific projects (e.g., those funded by the World Bank) may include insurance. The District Assemblies, as owners of public school buildings, are ultimately responsible for their protection. The current practice often relies on reactive government budgetary allocations after a disaster, as seen with this MP’s pledge, rather than proactive insurance payouts. Advocacy for a national public asset insurance scheme is ongoing.

Conclusion

The visit by Bekwai MP Ralph Poku-Adusei to the storm-ravaged schools marks a crucial first step in the recovery process. His pledge to utilize GETFund resources offers a pathway to rapid reconstruction. This event serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of educational infrastructure to climate-induced extreme weather. While the immediate focus must be on restoring safe classrooms for the students of Denyaseman Catholic SHS, Huntado Kindergarten, and Behenase schools, the incident should catalyze a broader conversation. This conversation must involve policymakers, educators, engineers, and communities on integrating climate resilience into every phase of school infrastructure planning, construction, and maintenance in Ghana. Sustainable solutions require moving beyond reactive disaster funding to proactive investment in resilient buildings, robust maintenance regimes, and, where feasible, insurance mechanisms. The true measure of the MP’s pledge, and the collective commitment of educational authorities, will be seen in the speed and quality of the rebuilt schools—structures that should withstand future storms and protect the nation’s most valuable asset: its children’s education.

Bekwai MP visits faculties suffering from rainstorm, pledges fast give a boost to – Life Pulse Daily