A protest by youth in Shama-Nyankrom in the Western Region on Monday, May 4, disrupted movement in the area for hours, affecting both industrial transport and candidates sitting for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

The demonstrators blocked the main road in the town by burning car tyres and mounting barricades, bringing traffic to a standstill despite the presence of police personnel deployed to the scene.

The action halted the movement of heavy-duty trucks transporting clay to major manufacturing firms, including Twyford Ceramics and Marco Polo Tiles, known for producing tiles and water closets.

However, beyond the industrial impact, the protest also significantly affected education activities, as BECE candidates and their teachers were left stranded and unable to reach their examination centres on time.

Some candidates were forced to wait for hours as access routes remained blocked, raising concerns about delays and disruptions to the nationwide examination.

The protest was organised by a group calling itself the Nyankrom Concerned Youth, who say their actions were triggered by the government’s failure to act on longstanding concerns about the poor state of roads in the community.

Speaking to Channel One TV’s Akwasi Agyei Annim, the group’s leader, Israel Kwesi Eshun, said the demonstration followed the expiration of a one-month ultimatum issued to authorities to ensure contractors returned to site to rehabilitate the deteriorating roads.

According to him, the situation has worsened over time, largely due to the activities of heavy-duty trucks servicing the tile manufacturing companies, which he said have left the main road in a severely damaged and almost unusable condition.

He expressed frustration over what he described as official inaction, warning that the protest would not be a one-off event.

The incident highlights growing tensions in the area over infrastructure neglect, as residents balance the economic benefits of industrial activity with the impact on local roads and daily life.

The Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, has directed the Ghana Education Service (GES) to urgently review the transportation system for examination question papers to avoid delays at examination centres across the country.

The directive follows an incident on Monday, May 4, at the Boako examination centre, where question papers arrived late, disrupting the start of the BECE. A total of 273 candidates from nine schools were affected.

At the time of the Minister’s visit, answer booklets had already been distributed. However, supervisors, invigilators, and candidates were still waiting for the question papers, while other centres had already begun the examination about 15 minutes earlier.

Expressing concern over the development, Mr Iddrisu instructed the GES Director-General to work with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to review the logistics surrounding the distribution of examination materials urgently.

“Ordinarily, candidates are supposed to be seated 15 minutes before the examination. However, I see answer sheets here without question papers.

“They are now on their way. We must therefore review the process of transporting examination questions to centres. Director-General, you sit on the WAEC Council, so we need immediate reforms,” he said.

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Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has stressed the need for significant investment in Senior High School (SHS) infrastructure as the most sustainable solution to challenges associated with the Computerized School Placement System (CSSPS).

He said expanding educational facilities across the country remains critical to easing pressure on the placement system and improving access to quality secondary education.

Addressing candidates writing the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) at Asawinso Senior High School in the Western North Region on Monday, May 4, the Minister assured students of ongoing efforts to support their transition to SHS.

He also encouraged BECE candidates to remain calm, noting that a nationwide sensitization exercise will be rolled out to guide them in selecting appropriate Senior High Schools.

Mr Iddrisu explained that addressing the recurring challenges in the placement system requires a deliberate expansion of infrastructure in SHSs.

“If we want to enhance the computerized placement system, we must invest more in education infrastructure: more classrooms, more dormitories, more laboratories, and improvement in the provision of learning materials and their quality,” he said.

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