Ten years after its establishment, the John Evans Atta Mills Senior High School at Ekumfi Otuam in the Central Region is struggling to survive amid deteriorating infrastructure, lack of facilities, and declining student enrolment.
Out of the six hundred students placed in the school under the Computerised Placement System this year, only about 150 reported, as the rest were discouraged by the absence of a boarding facility and poor accessibility.
Established in September 2015, the school was the first “E-Block” constructed under the government’s educational infrastructure project. But a decade later, the school that once symbolized hope now faces neglect and infrastructural decay.
The roofing sheets are peeling off, parts of the building remain unpainted, and the compound is unfenced, exposing students to potential intruders. The absence of a boarding house has also forced many students to commute from neighbouring communities, some as far as six kilometres away.
Transportation challenges compound the problem — the school relies on a single bus, and whenever it breaks down, academic activities grind to a halt.
Headmaster Francis Ato Davis expressed frustration about the situation, revealing how the poor facilities continue to drive away students.
“The location of the school is actually remote from the nearby communities. The nearest town is Otuam, which is six kilometres away. Whenever students come here, they are confronted with commuting challenges — those who can’t afford the bus have to walk, and parents have to pay for hostels,” he said.
“Eventually, it discourages many of them, and they look for schools elsewhere that are closer to home. Our enrolment is not encouraging — we are below 400.”
Mr. Davis added that converting the school into a boarding institution could solve most of its challenges.
“Looking at the location, if it were a boarding school, it would have been perfect. Parents often visit, but when they see how far it is and the condition of the place, they change their minds. That’s why we are appealing to government to help us with boarding facilities for students and accommodation for teachers.”
To commemorate its 10th anniversary, stakeholders are renewing calls on government and local authorities to intervene.
The Ekumfi District Director of Education, Mary Kafui, urged community members and traditional leaders to rally behind the school’s development.
“Let us ensure that J.E.A. Mills Senior High remains a model of excellence in our history and beyond,” she said.
The Governing Chairman of the National Teaching Council, Kwame Alovi, also expressed concern about the poor state of the school.
“We are appealing for boarding status for the school and facilities that will enhance teaching and learning — befitting the legacy of the late President John Evans Atta Mills,” he noted.
As the school marks a decade of existence, hopes remain high that renewed attention will help restore the late president’s vision of accessible and quality education in his hometown.
Stakeholders warn that unless urgent action is taken, the school’s challenges could worsen — further discouraging enrolment and jeopardising the future of hundreds of students in the Ekumfi area.
