The Gengenkpe Junior High School, which suffered extensive damage during a heavy rainstorm in April, 2025, has been fully renovated and is scheduled to be officially handed over to the Ghana Education Service (GES) on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

The storm, which affected the communities of Gengenkpe, Piiri, and Kusele, damaged key infrastructure including school buildings, clinics, electricity poles, and homes. It also claimed the life of a 12-year-old JHS student, Pearl Tuolong, plunging the Gengenkpe community into mourning.

Following the incident, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Nandom, Hon. Anthony Ziniel, led a team to assess the extent of damage and initiate recovery efforts. The rehabilitation of the Gengenkpe JHS block was awarded to Mr. Julius Walier, a local contractor and wood dealer, at a contract sum of GHC 96,925.00. The contractor pre-financed the entire project, which included re-roofing, painting, crack repairs, and structural reinforcement to protect the building against future storms.

Electricity has since been restored to the school and nearby communities, and the renovated block is now fully functional.

In addition to the municipal support, CHALICE-Ghana, a child sponsorship and community development organization, has pledged to support the school with 60 dual desks and a consignment of textbooks to enhance teaching and learning.

During a recent visit to the school on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, Hon. Anthony Ziniel expressed satisfaction with the progress of the renovation and commended the contractor and all stakeholders for their swift response and dedication to education in the municipality.

In the interim, JHS students have been attending classes at the nearby primary school block to ensure academic activities were not disrupted.

The full restoration of the Gengenkpe JHS marks a major step in the community’s recovery and demonstrates the impact of collaborative effort between government, civil society, and local contractors.

Source: Mohammed Abdulai/Nandom