Authorities at the Ghana Lebanon Islamic Secondary School in Accra are up-in-arms over the growing presence of an adjacent slum, which they say is threatening the safety and academic focus of students and staff.
“The presence of the slum has created an atmosphere of anxiety, making it difficult for teachers to focus on their core mandate of imparting knowledge,” one concerned parent said in a media interview.
The slum, which shares a wall with the school, has expanded in recent months, bringing with it a rise in alleged illicit activity. School administrators, teachers, and members of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) warn that the closeness of the school to what they describe as a breeding ground for social vices—including drug use and theft—is compromising the learning environment.
The school, long considered a hub for academic excellence in the area, has watched with growing unease as the settlement next door has transformed into what PTA members call a potential “haven for criminal behaviour.” Despite repeated warnings from school authorities since the slum began to take root, little preventive action was taken.
Attempts by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and the Regional Security Council to intervene have been largely unsuccessful.
The academic community remains on edge, waiting for government assurances that their classrooms will not become collateral damage in Accra’s urban sprawl.
According to school officials, efforts to relocate squatters were met with resistance and, in some cases, threats, thereby staling enforcement and allowed the slum to grow in both size and complexity.
School leaders say the encroachment now poses both physical danger to students. Teachers have reported increasing concerns about their personal safety and the influence of nearby activities on student behaviour.
The PTA is now urging a coalition of government bodies—including the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, National Security, and local authorities—to act decisively. Failing to do so, they warn, could trigger a broader crisis.
Some parents have begun to explore alternative schooling options for their children, citing a lack of confidence in the school’s ability to guarantee a secure environment.
“We want our children to learn, not to survive threats next door,” said a PTA spokesperson.
Beyond immediate safety, there is concern that the school’s reputation could suffer long-term damage. Education officials fear that if the issue is not addressed promptly, enrolment could decline and public trust in the institution may erode.
Stakeholders emphasize that this is not simply a local zoning issue—it is a matter of national importance.
“The question is not just whether students are safe today,” one school official said. “It’s whether Ghana is willing to protect the educational future of its youth.”
The school is calling for a coordinated and humane solution that balances the need for student safety with the realities facing squatters. Relocation, increased security, and long-term urban planning are among the measures being advocated.
