On January 15, Ghanaian students went back to school after being locked out of the classrooms for ten months. Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, announced the closure of all schools and public gatherings effective from March 16, 2020, after the country has recorded its first two coronavirus cases.
“The lessons drawn from the reopening of some sections of our educational institutions in the course of last year have put us in a much better position to oversee successfully the full reopening of our schools,” President Akufo-Addo said. “Our children must go to school, albeit safely, and we are satisfied that, in the current circumstances, the reopening of our schools is safe,” he added, while noting that school administrators have been trained in the guidelines for safe school reopening compliance of students to safety protocols.
The president reminded the nation of the need to remain vigilant to prevent the spread of Covid-19 during his January 17 address, as the second wave of the virus has increased the daily case count to 200. Ghana has recorded 58,431 total coronavirus cases and 358 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
Misper Apawu photographed the return to classrooms at the private Bloomfield Academy and public Sakumono Complex School in Accra.
A teacher at Bloomfield Academy in Accra monitors students as they wash their hands in front of the school’s gate, January 19, 2021.Chairs are stacked on tables at Sakumono Complex School in Accra before restarting classes, January 15, 2021.Students at Sakumono Complex School in Accra carry desks back into their classroom before restarting classes, January 15, 2021.A teacher at Sakumono Complex School in Accra helps her student to wear the protective mask properly, January 18, 2021.A student gathers her books from the storeroom during the first day of reopening at Sakumono Complex School in Accra, January 15, 2021.A student has her last day of home studies on the day of reopening in Accra, January 15, 2021.A schoolgirl waits with her siblings to be admitted into the Sakumono Complex School in Accra, January 18, 2021.Caroline, a primary school teacher at R/C Holy Child Primary school in Accra, poses for a picture, January 18, 2021. “I have allowed my children to go back to school as it reopened because safety measures have been put in place, like washing of hands, wearing of face masks, and observing social distancing. I believe can help reduce the spread of the virus, though I have also given my children hand sanitizer as an extra to what the school will provide. As a teacher, I’m monitoring my students to adhere to the safety protocols, especially wearing the nose mask and distancing themselves from each other,” she said.Phedella, a basic two student at Sakumono Complex School in Accra, attends classes on January 18, 2021. “During the Covid-19 lockdown, I was studying maths and English more, so that when school reopens I will be able to do better in class. I missed school because while at home, I do my house chores and study, but in school I can concentrate and learn more than home. I missed my friends too,” she said.A ‘No nose mask, no entry” sign is seen next to a hand washing station at the entrance of at Bloomfield Academy in Accra, January 18, 2021Kindergarten students study in their classroom wearing masks at Bloomfield Academy in Accra, January 18, 2021.A teacher and her pupils wear masks during their first day of class at Bloomfield Academy in Accra, January 18, 2021.A student sanitizes her hands before she enters her classroom at Bloomfield Academy in Accra, January 18, 2021.A teacher teaches in a protective mask at Bloomfield Academy in Accra, January 18, 2021.A schoolgirl is shown her temperature at the entrance of her classroom at Bloomfield Academy in Accra, January 18, 2021.Two students walk on the school compound at Sakumono Complex School in Accra, January 19, 2021.
