As part of its efforts to collect outstanding debts, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has disconnected power to the Garden City Special School located in Asokore Mampong, Ashanti Region.

The school has reportedly been without electricity since February 14, 2024, owing to an unpaid debt of GH₵66,000 to the utility company.

In an interview with JoyNews, the headmistress of the school, Dr. Roselyn Frimpong Agyapong, revealed that despite appeals to the Municipal Director of Education and the Asokore Mampong Municipal Chief Executive, efforts to persuade ECG to restore power to the school have been unsuccessful.

Expressing concern over the situation, Dr. Agyapong emphasized the need for greater attention to be given to the education of children with disabilities in Ghana, highlighting their often neglected status.

Furthermore, aside from the electricity challenge, the boys’ dormitory at the school has collapsed, forcing learners to sleep in classrooms, exposed to the elements.

Garden City Special School serves as a vital government facility catering to learners with special educational needs, covering regions such as Ashanti, parts of Eastern, Western, and Northern.

With approximately 192 learners, the school operates on full government subsidies and does not charge any fees to students.

Dr. Agyapong urged the government to urgently address the needs of special schools across the country, including the Garden City Special School, expressing frustration over the current situation.

“The government needs to pay more attention to children with disabilities in Ghana, especially their education. These children are often neglected in everything, and that is not right,” she added.