History was made this afternoon in the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District as community leaders, government officials, and citizens gathered for the official sod-cutting ceremony of a pioneering Special STEM Senior High School.
The landmark project, located in Issah, represents a monumental shift for the region’s educational landscape, marking the establishment of the very first specialised Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) institution in the Region.
Speaking at the event, the Upper West Regional Minister, Hon. Charles Lawanga Puozuing, delivered a strong charge to the project contractors, emphasising that substandard work will not be tolerated. He urged the contractors to work closely with local authorities, including the District Chief Executive (DCE) and technical consultants, to ensure the project meets the highest specifications.
“You must own this project,” Minister Puozuing stated, addressing the residents. “Ensure that you are on the ground, monitoring and cooperating with the contractor, consultant and the DCE to deliver a facility that will stand the test of time.”
A key highlight of the Minister’s address was his insistence on the utilisation of local content. He explicitly directed the contractors to source labourers, artisans, and construction materials directly from Issah and the wider Daffiama-Bussie-Issah constituency to stimulate the local economy.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Richard Antuana Jakpa, Director of Special Operations at the National Security Secretariat, expressed a deep sense of humility and gratitude as he pulled back the curtain on how the project was secured. He revealed that the journey to bring the institution to the district began at the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) Secretariat, where he personally lobbied for Issah to host the facility.
“I wish to state with humility that I personally lobbied for this school from the GETFund Secretariat because I strongly believed that our district deserved such a transformational educational institution,” Jakpa stated. “By the grace of God and through the support of many people, this dream has become a reality today.”
Jakpa extended sincere appreciation to the GETFund Administrator for the vital support and commitment shown toward realising the vision.
Crucially, the project received backing from the highest level of government. Jakpa profoundly thanked His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama, for his direct intervention and for granting the request to establish the specialised school in the district.
“I am particularly delighted because this Special STEM School will be the first of its kind in the Upper West Region,” Jakpa noted, emphasising that the achievement clearly demonstrates the government’s commitment to equitable educational development across Ghana.
The commencement of the project is viewed as far more than just the construction of a new building; it is a generational investment. Leaders at the ceremony emphasised that STEM education remains the bedrock of modern innovation, industrialisation, and overall national progress.
By bringing a prestigious institution of this calibre to Issah, the initiative aims to unlock new opportunities for local students, equipping them with the critical skills necessary to compete in a rapidly evolving technological world.
As the ground breaks on this historic site, the Daffiama-Bussie-Issah District positions itself as a future hub for academic excellence, promising to shape the minds of generations to come.
