Contractor Storms Classroom To Sack Students Over Unpaid Debt

A building contractor, Thomas Akwasi Frimpong of Atofis Company Limited, has reportedly stormed the Old Tafo R/C Basic School in Kumasi on Monday, November 25, to drive out students from their classrooms to lock the building, claiming government has failed to honour payment for the construction.

According to the contractor, he has spent GH₵230,000 to pre-finance the construction of the two-story classroom block, which started in 2008.

He claims to have sold all his property to pay back loans he contracted from the bank to undertake the project, but successive governments, have failed to pay him.

Addressing the media after locking up the school, Mr Frimpong, said the students would be allowed to use the facility, when the government settles the debt.

“Since 2010 that the students moved into the building till date, the government hasn’t paid me and I am not going to allow the students to use it,” he said.

“It’s over 14 years now; if government rented, wouldn’t he have paid? They should pay me, if not the students won’t be allowed to study in the building,” he told journalists.

The contractor, planned to lock the school in 2021, but some authorities intervened.

“I was waiting for the government to settle me, but nothing has been done,” he complained.

He explained that, his decision to drive out the students, was not done in bad fate, because of the impending 2024 election, even though he claimed to be a member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

“I am not doing this because it’s an election year. I’m a member of the NPP but now I need my money, enough is enough”.