Displaced Students to be integrated into neighbouring schools for BECE—North East Regional Minister
The North East Regional Minister, Hon. Ibrahim Tia, has assured that students who were displaced by the current chieftaincy conflicts in the region will be integrated into neighboring schools to enable them to sit for the upcoming Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Wednesday, March 5, the Minister explained that the decision was very important for the students as it would prevent them from missing their exams.
“Students who were about to write, we decided to integrate them into the nearby schools in Napandori and Bunkpurugu so that they could join them to write,” he stated.
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The schools were forced to close due to the violent clashes in the Bimbagu and Nanik areas, which resulted in the loss of three lives, including that of Nashiru Maijida, a teacher and native of Walewale in the West Mamprusi Municipality.
The Regional Minister revealed that the situation prompted teachers to flee the area, leaving the authorities with no choice but to temporarily shut down the schools as a precautionary measure to protect lives and property.
“As a result of that, all the teachers fled the area, and then we had to take a decision to close down the schools to save life and property,he said.
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The conflict stems from a chieftaincy dispute between the Bimbagu and Nanik communities, which the minister describes as a clan issue.
Hon. Ibrahim further assured that security forces are currently patrolling the area with additional reinforcements that are stationed between the two communities.
“There is enough security there who are patrolling the communities to bring the situation under control,” he said.
Authorities are in talks with the traditional rulers to address the conflict and also for a safe return of the teachers and students.