Construction work has resumed on the long-abandoned E-block educational project earmarked for the Ashaiman Municipality.
The four-storey, 24-unit classroom block with ancillary facilities was initiated by John Dramani Mahama during his first term as President as part of the 200 Community Day School projects across the country during his first administration.
Construction began in 2014 but was halted after the 2016 general election and had remained abandoned until recently.
Makeshift sheds
Due to the prolonged infrastructural challenges, management of the Ashaiman Technical and Vocational Institute—the ultimate beneficiary of the E-block project—has been compelled to conduct lessons under trees and makeshift structures.
The school currently operates from an adjoining Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) workshop, which is inadequate for its growing student population.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on Thursday, January 29, 2026, during a tour by the Member of Parliament for Ashaiman, Dr Ernest Norgbey, the Principal of the Ashaiman Technical and Vocational Institute, Elorm Agbenyega, appealed for urgent intervention, warning that the lack of classrooms and ancillary facilities was adversely affecting effective teaching and learning.
He explained that the workshop structures currently used by the school could no longer accommodate the growing number of students.
“A conducive learning environment is critical for academic excellence and effective technical training,” the Principal stressed.
Mr Agbenyega, therefore, called for the speedy completion of the E-Block to ease pressure on existing facilities and improve overall conditions in the school.
“We are hopeful that the E-Block will be completed as quickly as possible so it can be put to use,” he said, and added that authorities must also address accommodation challenges for both staff and students as a matter of urgency.
Satisfaction
The Member of Parliament for Ashaiman, Dr Norgbey, expressed satisfaction with the near completion of the E-Block project, describing it as a major milestone in improving access to technical education in the constituency.
“This E-Block was abandoned for years. When we came into office, school authorities consistently drew my attention to the urgent need for a conducive learning environment for students,” the MP stated.
Dr Norgbey disclosed that shortly after the new administration assumed office in January 2025, President Mahama directed that the project be completed by March this year.
According to him, the directive had yielded results, with the project now about 90 per cent completed and the contractor still actively working on site.
“As we speak, the project is almost 90 per cent complete, and I am hopeful that by March this year, it will be ready for use by students,” he said.
The MP acknowledged that accommodation remained a major challenge for the school, adding that although the institution was officially a day school, its location and the increasing number of student placements had made accommodation a pressing concern.
He pledged to advocate for the construction of hostel facilities for both male and female students, giving an assurance that the school had sufficient land for such projects.
Dr Norgbey also promised to re-engage the Minister of Education to secure funding for student hostels to complement the E-Block project.
Highlighting the importance of the institution, the MP described the Ashaiman Technical and Vocational Institute as a critical hub for engineering and technical training, noting its strong emphasis on practical, skills-based education supported by workshops.
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Source:
www.graphic.com.gh