Nearly a year after fire gutted the girls’ dormitory at the Zuarungu Nursing and Midwifery Training College (ZNMTC), destroying five rooms and displacing about 120 female students, the damaged facility remains unrepaired despite the approaching reopening of the college at the end of next month.
The delay has raised concerns among students, parents and education stakeholders, as the affected hostel is the only on-campus accommodation facility dedicated to female students at the college.
The fire outbreak, which occurred on September 29, 2025, reduced five rooms within the dormitory block to ashes, destroying mattresses, books, uniforms, learning materials, and other personal belongings of more than 120 female students. Although personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service successfully contained the blaze and prevented further damage, the affected section has remained untouched.
Sources familiar with the rehabilitation process say more than GH¢200,000 has so far been mobilised through donations and support initiatives.
However, the amount remains insufficient to restore the facility to the required standard.
According to estimates available to stakeholders, the Bolgatanga East District Assembly’s engineers have projected about GH¢1.2 million for the reconstruction of the damaged hostel, excluding furnishing.
Meanwhile, directed by the Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, the Architectural and Engineering Services Limited (AESL) assessment reportedly puts the cost at about GH¢1.6 million, including furnishing the facility with beds and other essential items.
Sources also indicate that Mr Akamugri, in collaboration with education authorities, has packaged the rehabilitation proposal for consideration under the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to secure funding for the reconstruction.
However, almost a year after the incident, there is still no official timeline indicating when GETFund support will be approved or when reconstruction work will commence, leaving students and college authorities uncertain ahead of the new academic year.
Meanwhile, the college is currently relying on its Internally Generated Funds (IGF) to finance the construction of a multipurpose storey building project aimed at expanding its facilities. However, sources say the project has placed additional pressure on the institution’s finances and stretched its budgetary capacity.
With the return of students fast approaching, pressure is mounting on authorities, GETFund, and other stakeholders to intervene and restore the only female residential facility on campus.
Source: bolgafmonline.com|102.7 MHz| Moses Apiah| Bolga-East
