Ex-Minister Finally Vacates Secko Flat ...Whiles Teachers Live Under Life Threatening Situation

After being in the news for over staying her welcome in a government School flat, The New Crusading GUIDE has gathered that the family of the former Deputy Western Regional Minister, Ms Betty Bosumtwi-Sam has finally packed bag and baggage out of the bungalow belonging to the Sekondi College (SECKO). It would be recalled that about a month ago, this paper reported of the existence of some relatives of the former Minister in the school�s flat for a number of years, breaching terms she had with the Headmaster. Mr. Joseph Asmah. A visit to the place by this reporter confirmed the family�s departure from the second cycle institution�s bungalow. When asked, neighbors averred that they left and headed for a different place in town few days after the news about their stay in the flat broke out. Their exit from the flat according to them would now give some teachers of SECKO who grumbled for a suitable place to stay or lived in a rented apartment miles away from the school the opportunity to get a decent place to stay. Meanwhile, the conditions under which some teachers of SECKO live in the school�s array of abandoned bungalows at Ekuasi, a suburb of Sekondi is very appalling and needs urgent attention. Now under the care of the Housing Ministry, the information this paper has gathered indicates that the bungalows used to belong to SECKO in their early beginnings until it was declared abandoned. It was noted in an interaction with some of the staff who occupied some of the bungalows there that, the school posted them there even though it was clear to authorities that the buildings were declared abandoned. It was further noted when this reporter visited the place a month ago that, squatters had taken most part of the buildings, thereby generating competition among themselves and the teachers for space. The interactions with the teachers also revealed that staff occupants of SECKO were compelled to pay an amount as rent to the school�s administration on monthly basis while the squatters on the other hand paid nothing. They also complained about how after being forced to pay rent advance administration remained adamant in the maintenance of the buildings. They explained that the buildings have since been left to its fate since they were not going to get a refund from the administration after they have done some renovation works. In an exclusive interview with the Headmaster Mr. Joseph Asmah, when the issue about Betty Sam first popped up, he admitted that the school had never done any renovation works on the bungalows but was quick to add that they were declared abandoned and thus auditors would come after the school should they attempt to. He however made it clear that the school�s administration was trying in its small way to move the teachers out of the abandoned bungalows without mentioning when.