Haruna Iddrisu, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale Central and erstwhile Majority Leader, has refuted media claims that a toilet in one of the schools in his constituency, the Ghana Senior High School (GHANASCO), has been converted into student housing.
According to him, the facility documented in a viral video has not been used as a toilet since the 1970s, despite the fact that it is a toilet.
The former majority leader, who spoke to the media after visiting the school to learn more about the incident, stated that the facility was used as a storage room, but some students used it to study alone.
"Much of what has been reported publicly is not entirely true; it lacks historical context and evidence of the facility's non-use, despite being widely reported as if there is an official record of students sleeping in toilets and bathrooms.
"No official documentation supports this view. It has been abandoned as a toilet and restroom since the 1970s and 1980s and is primarily used as a storage room.
"However, some students seeking isolation for educational purposes have used it to isolate themselves," he said.
Background:
The member of parliament for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak, shared a video purportedly depicting pupils sleeping in a GHANASCO toilet facility.
GhanaWeb viewed the aforementioned video, which depicted student mattresses, chop boxes, luggage, and other student belongings in the toilet compartment of a restroom.
Some of the materials and students were also visible in the hallway leading to the restroom.
In another video shared by the member of parliament, a first-year student named Godlove stated that their dormitory lacked a lavatory.
According to him, the students' open defecation has created a health crisis at the school, with students constantly falling ill.
Consequently, the GES placed the superintendent and senior housemaster of GHANASCO on temporary suspension.
According to GES, the school's conversion of a restroom into an accommodation facility is unacceptable, given that the school's records indicate it should have excess accommodation capacity for 300 pupils.
In a statement released on Sunday, April 16, 2023, the GES announced that the headmaster and housemaster have been suspended pending the conclusion of a two-week investigation.