According to leaders of the Anyinasu Zongo, the lack of adequate furniture and deteriorating facilities have led to rising dropout rates, with many school-going children staying away simply because there is nowhere to sit.

"We don't have furniture for the children. The classroom floors are bad. Because the floor is not good and we lack furniture, the children don't want to come to school – when they come, they have no place to sit," said Solomon Boakye, a teacher at the school.

Cracked walls, collapsing beams, animal droppings

The school’s wooden classroom blocks are riddled with cracks, according to teachers, and pose a serious safety risk.

"The school's wooden buildings have several cracks all over, and it poses a great threat to us the teachers and pupils. There was a time one of the beams collapsed and nearly hit some of the students," Boakye added.

The facility also suffers from dusty floors, loose door and window frames, and foul-smelling animal droppings – because broken doors and windows have allowed animals to enter freely.

"Anytime we come to school, we spend so much time cleaning the animal droppings," Boakye said.

Teachers added that they are forced to close down whenever it rains heavily in the area.

Teacher turnover worsens the crisis

The assemblyman for the area, Berdjour Daniel, said the poor conditions have made it difficult to retain staff.

"Due to these and many other challenges, some of the teachers posted to the school seek reposting and eventually leave, leaving the school with fewer teachers," he explained.

Chiefs appeal for electricity and classroom repairs

The Zongo chiefs say the education crisis is having wider social consequences. They argue that children dropping out of school has fueled drug abuse – including smoking of weed and use of other inhalants – which in turn contributes to teenage pregnancy, theft, and other crimes.

The chiefs are calling for immediate extension of electricity to the Zongo area, believing this could help curb drug abuse by providing lighting and enabling community activities.

The chief of Dagati, Anyinasu, pleaded with the Member of Parliament for Ejura-Sekyedumase, Hon. Bawa Mohamed, and the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Rafiu Fuseini Adams, to expedite work on the school project and help fix the burnt wooden structure used as a classroom.

"We are pleading with the MP and MCE to help us," the chief said.