![School prefect Asuo Angela, on behalf of students of Sagnarigu Girls’ Model JHS [right], presents a petition to Sagnarigu MCE Abdulai Gong [left].](https://www.citinewsroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SAGNARIGU-1.jpeg)
Students of the Sagnarigu Girls’ Model Junior High School have appealed to the Sagnarigu Municipal Assembly to urgently address challenges relating to water supply, sanitation and security that are affecting teaching and learning at the school.
The students appealed through a petition presented to the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Sagnarigu, Abdulai Gong, as part of activities marking the International Day of the African Child.
The petition, read by the school prefect, Asuo Angela, during an event organised by ActionAid Ghana to commemorate the day, revealed that the school, which has a population of more than 200 learners, has operated without a reliable water supply since its establishment because installed water taps remain non-functional.
According to the students, the school currently relies on water supplied occasionally by the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), which is inadequate to meet their daily needs.
They noted that the lack of water has negatively affected sanitation, toilet maintenance and menstrual hygiene management, particularly among female students, creating health risks and disrupting academic activities.
“For adolescent girls, the inability to manage menstrual hygiene in privacy and cleanliness leads to discomfort, health risks and increased absenteeism,” the petition stated.
The students also raised concerns about poor waste management, explaining that the lack of covered waste bins has resulted in littering on the school compound. They said the situation often forces students to collect refuse with their bare hands, posing a threat to their health and safety.
The petition further highlighted the incomplete perimeter wall around the school, which they said allows some members of the community to access the premises at night and engage in open defecation.
According to the students, the situation exposes them to diseases such as cholera and typhoid while undermining safety within the school environment.
They therefore appealed to the Municipal Assembly to provide a mechanised borehole with a storage facility, durable covered waste bins and complete the school’s perimeter wall.
Speaking at the event, Northern Regional Programmes Manager of ActionAid Ghana, Beatrice Bije, underscored the importance of the 2025 theme, “Ensuring Universal Access to WASH for Every Child in Ghana.”
She noted that many communities continue to struggle with access to potable water, while poor sanitation practices contribute to unhealthy living conditions.
“Issues of water, sanitation and hygiene are critical, and they are key issues that need everyone on board to address,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Chief Executive for Sagnarigu pledged to support the school with a borehole project in the coming months.
He also assured the students that efforts were underway to begin construction of a perimeter fence wall by the end of the year to improve security and create a safer learning environment.
