Joy and gratitude have swept through the Sawaliga community in the Upper East Region following the swift intervention of renowned businessman and philanthropist Seidu Agongo, who has fully rehabilitated a storm-ravaged classroom block at the Sawaliga Junior High School.

The three-unit classroom block was destroyed on May 20, 2025, when a violent windstorm tore off its roof, halting academic activities and forcing students to study under an open pavilion in harsh weather.

The damage left both pupils and teachers in a state of despair, with teaching and learning severely disrupted due to makeshift arrangements and split shifts.

In a desperate effort to attract support, local development advocate Zinekena Solomon TTB took to social media to highlight the school’s plight.

Tagging stakeholders including Seidu Agongo, Zinekena’s post quickly caught the philanthropist’s attention.

“We had reached out to the Assembly Member, the DCE, and the MP, but the district had limited resources because several schools were affected by the storm,” Zinekena explained.

“So I took to social media. By May 22, Agongo’s team had contacted me. And now, we have a fully renovated structure.”

Within weeks, Agongo’s team reroofed and refurbished the damaged block, restoring a safe and conducive learning environment for the school.

At a brief handover ceremony, Gilbert Alolika, who represented Agongo, called on the community to safeguard the facility. “This is an investment in the future of our children. We urge everyone to maintain it and ensure it serves generations to come,” he said.

Assistant Headmaster Jonas Mbazor Yinbil described the intervention as life-saving.

“After the storm, we had no help in sight and the rains were coming.

Our children were exposed. But thanks to Mr. Agongo, our hope has been restored,” he said emotionally.

Despite the successful rehabilitation, the school still faces major challenges. With just eight teachers handling classes from Kindergarten to JHS, some pupils—particularly those in KG1, KG2, and Primary 1—share a single room.

Additionally, the lack of teachers’ accommodation means staff commute daily from Bolgatanga, nearly an hour away, hampering effective teaching and teacher retention.

PTA Chairman Sampana Kakam described Agongo’s gesture as “a miracle,” noting that previous appeals to authorities went unanswered.

“We were losing hope, but this act of kindness has reignited our faith in the power of community support,” he said.

While challenges remain—especially with staffing, furniture, and infrastructure—the community is optimistic that Agongo’s generosity will inspire more support, giving Sawaliga’s children a better chance at quality education.