The Tendamba Primary School in Sokpayiri, a suburb of Wa in the Upper West Region, has finally been demolished to clear the way for the construction of Wa Municipal’s segment of the proposed 24-hour economy market.
The demolition, carried out in the early hours of Saturday, 13th June 2026, marks the culmination of months of public disagreement, legal action, and traditional mediation over the use of the site.
The Wa Municipal Assembly had earlier earmarked the 1956-established school for demolition as part of land acquisition processes for the flagship market project. The school, which is widely regarded as part of Sokpayiri’s historical identity and community heritage, had also produced notable personalities, including legal practitioner Justice Yuoni Kulendi.
For many residents, the structure symbolised both educational legacy and communal pride.
However, the decision triggered strong resistance from a section of landlords in Sokpayiri. In a press conference held in February, they described the proposed demolition as ill-conceived and criticised what they said was insufficient stakeholder engagement.
They further argued that the removal of the school risked undermining educational access and “shattering the dreams of many children” within the community.
While opposition mounted from one faction of the landlords, another group within the same family lineage publicly countered the claims, holding a separate press conference to indicate that they had been duly consulted and had consented to the project. This internal divergence contributed to heightened tensions and delayed the commencement of construction works, despite several project sites having already been handed over to contractors.
The impasse drew attention from national leadership. The Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Ahmed Ibrahim, during a visit to the Wa Naa’s Palace, stressed the need for caution in handling the matter and indicated that due process should guide any demolition exercise.
Separately, John Dramani Mahama clarified that he had not issued any directive for the demolition of the school. He emphasised that the 24-hour economy market initiative is intended to benefit the people of Wa and should therefore be implemented at a location determined through local consensus.
The prolonged disagreement subsequently stalled preparatory works on the project. In response, the Sokpayiri landlords initiated legal proceedings at the Wa High Court, seeking an interlocutory injunction to halt any demolition activities until the matter was resolved.
Amid the legal standoff, the Overlord of the Waala Traditional Area, Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV, intervened by formally requesting to mediate the dispute. The High Court granted his request, allowing traditional authority-led arbitration to proceed.
The mediation process proved decisive. Following engagements with the disputing parties, the Waala Overlord successfully facilitated an agreement that resolved the longstanding concerns surrounding the project site. The resolution effectively cleared the way for implementation of the municipal market project.
With consensus eventually achieved, the demolition of the Tendamba Primary School was executed in the early hours of Saturday without reported incidents. The exercise is expected to accelerate preparatory works for the Wa Municipal component of the 24-hour economy market, which is part of a broader national infrastructure and economic revitalisation agenda.
Meanwhile, arrangements have been made for temporary classroom facilities to ensure the smooth relocation and continued academic activities of the affected pupils.
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