No light, no network, no bridge: Jirapa’s deprived communities get new schools under SOCO
A journey through streams and valleys, roads cut off by the absence of bridges, communities without electricity or mobile network coverage, and residents who have to climb trees to make phone calls.
In the Jirapa Municipality of the Upper West Region, three deprived communities—Siatori, Ullo-Gozu, and Siiri—struggle with numerous challenges. Residents must trek over three miles to access basic education in dilapidated schools. Siatori, in particular, lacks electricity and mobile network coverage, forcing people to seek minimal signals and even climb trees to make calls.
The situation improved with the SOCO Project, a World Bank-funded initiative implemented by the Jirapa Municipal Assembly. New kindergarten blocks were commissioned in Siatori, Ullo-Gozu, and Kunchene, bringing education closer to these communities. At Siatori, a kindergarten block was handed over to the community, where children previously faced a daunting three-mile walk to school.
The MP for Jirapa, Cletus Seidu Dapilaa, expressed pride in the new facility, encouraging parents to send their children, especially girls, to school. The Assembly Member for Kunchene, Hon. Saadare Crispin, recounted the community's shared use of a single educational facility, which forced children to walk nearly three miles. He emphasized the need for a bridge, better electricity, and improved mobile network coverage.
Despite these challenges, Crispin remains optimistic about the positive impact of the new facility on education in the community.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
