When the playground becomes a pond: Ofankor St. Peter’s Anglican suffers each time it rains

We arrived at St. Peter’s Anglican School in Ofankor just after 3 pm.

School had already closed, but the bell had not rung yet.

A few students lingered outside, some with muddy uniforms. Others trudged home along the roadside.

It had rained earlier that morning, but not heavily. Just enough to cause disruptions.

Inside the school yard, a large pool of stagnant water formed. This area should be safe for play and movement. Instead, it was slippery and muddy. Some pathways were nearly impossible to walk on.

The aftermath of the rain was clear: learning was interrupted again. For students and teachers here, this is nothing new.

St. Peter’s Anglican School is a basic public school in Accra's growing community. It has battled flooding for years due to poor drainage. Water collects across the compound whenever it rains. Classrooms sometimes flood, making them unusable.

On some days, school must dismiss early or may not open at all.

Off camera, a few students shared their frustration quietly. “We can’t even play anymore,” one said sadly. “The playground is always full of water.”

Reporting on this issue proved difficult during our visit. The Assemblywoman for the area approached us and insisted we stop filming. She claimed we had no right to document this public concern.

This reaction highlights a deeper issue: silence around problems affecting children in public schools. Why must students navigate flooded grounds? Why risk injury or illness just to get an education? Why has nothing been done for so long?

Community sources say this problem has existed for years without intervention. Drainage is poor in the area, and the school sits low-lying, collecting runoff when it rains.

As urban development continues in Ofankor, infrastructure planning becomes urgent. For St. Peter’s children, rainy season feels like a recurring nightmare.

The cost of inaction is high; it's the children who suffer most. Each day water returns sends a message: their school is not a priority.

Have you seen similar issues at other schools in your community? Share your story with us.