An abandoned building in Wechiau, the district capital of Wa West, purportedly meant to be a community nursing school has finally been put to use. The facility which was constructed under the erstwhile NDC administration was in ruins as louvre blades and other components of the building were being stolen or lost to decay.
According to a former assemblyman of the area Mr. Abdulai Issahaku, after consultations between community leaders, and the people, it was generally decided to use the abandoned building to the benefit of the community.
Since Wechiau did not have a second cycle institution, the authorities deemed it appropriate to make the facility serve the purpose. Correspondence between the community leaders and the District Assembly commenced earnestly in a bid to hurry the process and utilize the facility.
All the dealings came to fruition when President Akufo-Addo visited Wechiau as part of a working visit to Wa. The Paramount Chief of the Wechiau Traditional Area, Naa Alhaji Imoro Nandomy-Gomah II expressed the desire of the community to the president who in turn saw it as a laudable idea.
The president then tasked the Assembly to work hand in hand with the community to meet the demand. True to the words of the President, Wechiau Senior High and Technical School was born on the 15th of November.
Even though there are many challenges, the Assembly and community leaders have found innovative ways to ensure the smooth running of the school for the next academic year; by which time the school would have been absorbed unto the list of public sector schools.
Currently, the school is run by volunteer teachers from the district educational office. It also operates as a Day school focusing on General Arts and Business; the Technical component is believed can be started in the next academic year when the school is formally taken over by Ghana Education Service.
Wechiau is home to the Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary in the Upper West Region of Ghana.