Bono East Minister directs MCE to stop hotel project near Konkrompe SHS

A private developer's decision to put up a hotel facility adjacent to New Konkrompe Senior High School has sparked serious concerns among school authorities, who fear it poses a direct risk to students, particularly the girls.

The alarm was raised by the school's Assistant Headmistress, Catherine Antwiwaa, during a visit by the Bono East Regional Minister, Francis Owusu Antwi, to inspect an ongoing government-funded dining hall project for the school. She appealed to the minister to intervene urgently to stop the developer, warning that the proximity of the facility would expose students to negative influences.

"I am appealing to the minister to intervene to help stop a developer who is currently putting up a hotel next to the school, noting that it will affect the girls in the school," she said.

The Regional Minister, who toured the school alongside the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), described the siting of a hotel next to a school as unacceptable and directed the MCE to take immediate steps to halt the project. He charged the MCE to liaise with the traditional authorities, Nananom, to stop the developer without delay.

The directive puts the spotlight on the role of local authorities and traditional leaders in regulating land use around educational institutions. The report notes that across Ghana, schools have increasingly found themselves bordered by bars, hotels and other commercial establishments, raising questions about zoning regulations and the enforcement of laws meant to protect educational spaces.

For the girls of Konkrompe SHS in particular, the presence of a hotel next door raises fears of harassment, exploitation and distractions that could undermine their academic progress. The outcome is expected to be watched as a test of how seriously authorities take the protection of students from harmful external influences.