In response to reports of violence at recent competitions, the Ghana Education Service has directed the immediate suspension of all zonal inter-school sporting activities between senior high schools and senior high technical schools in the Central Region.
The Central Regional Education Directorate published a letter from the Service on February 22 stating that it had received credible reports of significant conflicts between students during zonal athletics competitions, which raised concerns about the safety of pupils, teachers, and spectators.
In a statement released by Juliette Dubie Otami, the Central Regional Director of Education, it was said that the incidents had undermined the basic principles of discipline, teamwork, and mutual respect that school sports are meant to foster, as well as disrupted the spirit of healthy competition.
Management said that the temporary suspension was necessary in order to protect lives, maintain order, and preserve the integrity of school athletic events while a thorough investigation is carried out in collaboration with all parties involved.
The heads of second-cycle schools have been directed to immediately halt all scheduled or planned zonal athletic events, notify students and employees of the order, and see that it is strictly followed in their institutions.
The ban went into effect right away and will continue until further notice. The Service guaranteed that measures are being taken to restart athletic events under conditions that promote safety, discipline, and fair competition.
The order comes after a violent incident on February 19 that broke up the District Schools Athletics Games in Agona Swedru and is now being investigated by the Ghana Police Service.
According to reports, a demonstration of athletic prowess quickly turned into pandemonium when animosity between pupils at Obrachire Senior High Technical School and Swedru School of Business, often known as SWESBUS, flared up.
A group of pupils allegedly attacked a student from Obrachire during the conflict. According to reports, he was attacked with sticks and stones until onlookers stepped in. The wounded student was eventually brought to a healthcare facility for medical care.
As a result of widespread social media coverage of the incident, police intervened. The Ghana Police Service issued the following statement on its official Facebook page:
“POLICE BEGIN INVESTIGATION INTO VIRAL VIDEO OF STUDENT VIOLENCE”
In a viral video that the Ghana Police Service has seen, a crowd of individuals can be seen throwing stones at a student.
The incident is still being investigated, and more information will be released when available.
The Service vehemently condemns the violence and guarantees the public that every offender will be identified and prosecuted.
As inquiries into the exact details of the confrontation proceed, the police have reassured the public that anyone found responsible will be subject to the full force of the law.
As a result of the incident, there have been increasing demands from the public and education stakeholders for improved security and more stringent supervision at inter-school athletic competitions in order to avoid a recurrence. As the investigation continues, authorities will release additional information, according to them.
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