Demolition of 70-year-old tindamba primary school sparks outrage in Wa

A wave of anger and disappointment has swept through the Wa Municipality following the demolition of the historic Tindamba Primary School, a 70-year-old educational institution that has served generations of pupils and produced some of the Upper West Region’s most distinguished personalities.

For seven decades, the red-brick classrooms of Tindamba Primary School stood as a symbol of learning, hope and community development. Among its notable alumni is Justice Yonny Kulendi, who made history as the first person from the Upper West Region since 1876 to be appointed to Ghana’s Supreme Court.

However, in the early hours of Saturday morning, while much of Wa was asleep, bulldozers moved onto the school premises and razed the structures to the ground.

Residents say the demolition took place at about 2:00 a.m., leaving behind heaps of rubble where generations of children had once received their education. By sunrise, scavengers and residents were seen moving through the debris, struggling to come to terms with the destruction of a school many regarded as a landmark in the community.

The demolition stems from government’s proposed 24-hour economy market initiative, which requires Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to identify suitable locations for the development of modern market facilities.

In collaboration with some traditional authorities, the Wa Municipal Assembly selected the Tindamba Primary School site for the proposed market project. The decision, however, immediately generated widespread controversy and opposition from residents, education stakeholders and former students.

The proposal became the subject of intense public debate, resulting in a series of press conferences, community engagements and legal challenges.

Earlier this year, during an official visit to Wa, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, publicly expressed reservations about the plan to demolish the school, citing concerns about its educational significance and the potential impact on pupils.

A dispute subsequently emerged between the landowners of Tindamba and supporters of the market project. The matter was eventually taken to the Wa High Court before later being withdrawn and settled out of court through the intervention of the Waala Overlord, effectively paving the way for the project to proceed.

As a result of the demolition, 214 pupils have been displaced and temporarily relocated to the Nuriya English and Arabic School and Tindamba Junior High School.

Education authorities have merged two streams into one in order to accommodate the affected pupils, while two headteachers now share a single office space. Despite efforts to ensure continuity in learning, conditions at the temporary location remain challenging.

A visit to the relocation site revealed inadequate sanitation facilities, overgrown surroundings and limited infrastructure to support the influx of students. Toilets and urinals were found in poor condition, raising concerns about hygiene and the welfare of pupils.

The disruption has also affected school enrollment. According to local sources, enrollment has fallen from more than 400 pupils before the demolition to just 214, with some parents opting to transfer their children to other schools due to concerns over overcrowding and inadequate facilities.

For many residents, the destruction of Tindamba Primary School represents more than the loss of a physical structure. It marks the disappearance of a cherished institution that shaped the lives of thousands of children and contributed significantly to the educational development of the municipality.

Community members have questioned whether the benefits of the proposed market project outweigh the educational and historical value of the school, while others continue to call for greater consultation in future development projects.

As construction plans move forward, the debate surrounding the demolition continues to divide opinion in Wa. While supporters argue that the market will stimulate economic activity and create opportunities for traders, critics insist that the manner in which the school was demolished has left a painful scar on the community.

For now, the pupils of Tindamba Primary School continue their studies in temporary classrooms, while residents grapple with a lingering question: who will restore the seven decades of history, memories and educational legacy that disappeared beneath the bulldozers in the dead of night?