Funsi SHS Students Protest Years Without Electricity: “Even Poultry Farms Get Electricity”

Students at Funsi Senior High School (SHS) in the Upper West Region, say their dormitories have not had lights for the past three years, forcing them to sleep in darkness each night at a time some poultry farms even have lights for chickens to sleep.

The students have therefore staged a protest over the years of sleeping in the dark and sometimes having no water at all in the school for several months.

The situation came to public attention after a video of a student confronting school authorities went viral on social media.

In the video, recorded on Monday, November 9, 2026, a male student tells the headmaster and teachers that the boys’ dormitory has had no electricity for his entire three years at the school. He asks them a direct question: “Will you be happy if your children are sleeping in a room where there is no light?”.

He then makes a comparison that has resonated with many people: “Even poultry farms get electricity, but our dormitory has been without electricity, and we are in our third year”.

The student also shared a frightening example of the dangers students face in the dark. He said that one day, a student opened his chopbox and found a snake inside it.

Before the video was taken to capture how they students expressed their griviances, they had reportedly staged a peaceful demonstration on campus Monday.

The demonstration is reported to have begun at about 4:00 a.m., when students marched to the Headmaster’s bungalow. Reports indicate that the students wanted to ensure the Headmaster did not leave for Wa before addressing their concerns.

They also reportedly insisted that the school’s official vehicle should not be used for his departure while their grievances remained unresolved. Despite the tension, reports indicate that no school property was destroyed. The students, however, remain firm in their demand for immediate action to improve conditions on campus.

The years of blackout blackout is not the only challenge at the school. The headmaster, Sulemani Dramani, has previously spoken about the school’s infrastructure needs.

He has said that several government projects have stalled, including a girls’ dormitory block that is about 85% complete, an assembly hall that is about 60% complete, and a dining hall that is about 40% complete.

Staff accommodation is also a serious issue. Mr. Dramani has described it as “an eye saw” that as many as eight teachers are living in a single apartment. He noted that less than 5% of staff are housed on campus. As of 2024, the school had 317 students enrolled.

 

48-Hour Ultimatum

The protest on November 9 was not only about electricity. Students also demonstrated over what they called the neglect of their welfare.

Following the demonstration, they issued a 48-hour ultimatum to school authorities to address worsening water shortages and other concerns, warning that they would stage a walkout if their demands were not met.

The student in the viral video made it clear that patience had run out. “We do not need any further promises or channels of communication. We have waited for a long time, and it’s been three years, and now we are tired,” he said.

The situation at Funsi SHS highlights the daily realities that many students face and raises important questions about how the country supports its schools and protects the welfare of its young people.