E/R: Akyem Pano Presby Pupils Hit the Streets Over Human Waste in Classrooms

Pupils and teachers of Akyem Pano Presbyterian Basic School on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, staged a peaceful demonstration through the principal streets of Akyem Pano to protest against the repeated defecation in their classrooms by unidentified persons.

Wearing red armbands and holding placards with inscriptions including “The Kids Are Tired of Scrubbing Toilets Every Morning” and “Stop Defecating in Our Classroom,” the pupils marched through the town chanting solidarity songs and calling for urgent intervention to end what they described as a growing public health threat affecting academic work.

According to residents and school authorities, the disturbing incident has persisted for some time despite several complaints lodged with community stakeholders, opinion leaders, and the Municipal Education Directorate. The situation continues to spark outrage among residents, many of whom say they are shocked that some individuals would turn classrooms into places of defecation even though a functional public toilet facility is located just behind the school.

Residents say the repeated acts, which reportedly also involve the breaking of classroom doors at night, have become a major setback to teaching and learning, with pupils and teachers often forced to clean human waste from classrooms before lessons can begin.

Speaking during the protest, PTA Chairman Alhaji Issah Alhassan, popularly known as Shaibu Tettey, confirmed that the issue has become a serious concern for both staff and pupils. He described the development as unacceptable and warned that anyone found loitering around the school premises after 7:00 p.m. would face legal action. He also cautioned those using the school compound as a sleeping place to stop immediately.

Addressing participants during a durbar organised by Pano Diamond Ladies Club in collaboration with Femicare Ghana to promote menstrual hygiene among basic school pupils in the community, Headmistress Madam Darko Kyerewaa said the demonstration was necessary to draw attention to the hardship pupils and teachers endure each morning due to the repeated cleaning of human waste from classrooms before academic activities commence.

She appealed to authorities, community leaders, and the general public to respond swiftly to the school’s concerns and help bring the unfortunate situation to an end, stressing the need to provide pupils with a safe, clean, and conducive environment for effective teaching and learning.

Credit: Nana Kwasi Asare