A powerful windstorm that swept through Tamale on Thursday evening has rendered more than 1,000 female students of the Northern School of Business Senior High School (NOBISCO) homeless, after severely damaging their dormitory.
In response, school authorities have implemented emergency measures by relocating the affected girls to one of the boys’ hostels, forcing the male students to merge into already crowded dormitories. The situation has worsened congestion on campus, making living conditions extremely difficult for students.
Headmaster Hassan Issah Dokurugu painted a dire picture of the overcrowding, likening the current state of the dormitories to an “ant hill,” where students are packed into every available space, including verandas. He expressed grave concerns over the impact of the situation, particularly with the high temperatures in the region, and appealed for urgent government intervention to ease the crisis.
Eyewitnesses recounted the terrifying moments of the storm. Mohammed Adisa Mantinso, a student, described how the strong winds, despite little rainfall, ripped off the dormitory’s roof, trapping some students inside. “The boys had to help remove the fallen roof before we could get out,” she recalled.
Another student raised concerns over the worsening congestion, revealing that rooms meant to accommodate 10 students are now housing 25. She urged the government to take immediate steps to provide relief and address the school’s infrastructure challenges.
With the displaced students struggling to find safe and comfortable accommodation, authorities are calling for swift intervention to restore normalcy at the school.
