Authorities at the Ghana Lebanon Islamic Secondary School (GLISS) in Accra, in collaboration with the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), have raised an alarm over what they describe as a growing security and moral threat posed by a slum that has sprung up adjacent to the school premises.
The school community fears the proximity of the slum—now sharing a boundary wall with the institution—poses serious risks to students’ safety and moral development, exposing them to drugs, theft, and other social vices.
GLISS, long regarded as a centre of academic excellence and discipline, is now grappling with a deteriorating learning environment. According to school authorities, the slum has become a haven for open illicit activities, some of which are beginning to affect students.
At a recent media briefing, PTA members, Mr. Abdul Raheem Muhammed and Mr. Ahmed Khamis described the situation as dire.
“This development threatens to undo the efforts of teachers and parents alike. The slum is breeding activities that no child should be exposed to,” Mr. Khamis noted.
School officials lamented that despite earlier warnings about the encroaching settlement, no significant action was taken. Staff and teachers alike have expressed fear for their safety, citing frequent disturbances and the general feeling of insecurity.
“We raised red flags at the early stages, but our concerns were ignored. Today, the slum has grown in size and complexity—and the danger has grown with it.”
“How do you focus on teaching when you’re constantly looking over your shoulder?” the school authorities lamented.
The PTA further revealed that interventions by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Regional Security Council had been met with resistance from squatters, some of whom allegedly issued threats against authorities attempting to intervene.
“The squatters are acting with impunity. We cannot sit idly by while the school’s reputation, safety, and future are under threat,” said Mr. Muhammed.
The situation has now reached a tipping point. The school authorities are calling on the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service (GES), National Security, and all relevant agencies to take swift and decisive action to resolve the matter.
Parents are also growing increasingly concerned. Several have indicated that they are contemplating relocating their wards to safer schools. “We enrolled our children here because we trusted this institution. But if the environment becomes unsafe, we will have no choice but to withdraw them,” a parent told the media.
Beyond safety concerns, GLISS officials are worried about the potential impact on academic performance and the institution’s public image stressing, “No parent wants to associate their child with a school surrounded by criminal activity. It undermines everything we stand for.”
Calls are intensifying for the relocation of the squatters and the restoration of a safe, conducive learning environment. Parents argue that with coordinated efforts, the matter can be addressed before it escalates into a full-blown crisis.
