A day meant to celebrate unity, talent and sportsmanship among second-cycle institutions in the Eastern Region was overshadowed by violence after a student of Koforidua Senior High Technical School (SECTECH) was stabbed during disturbances linked to the ongoing Eastern Regional Inter-Schools Sports Festival in Koforidua.
The incident, which occurred near the festival period, has raised serious concerns about student safety, crowd control and the adequacy of security arrangements at large inter-school events.
The injured student, identified as Jerome Appiah, is reported to have been attacked while returning to campus after purchasing food. According to preliminary accounts, the assailants were alleged to be some Form Two students of New Juaben Senior High School. During the attack, Appiah sustained a deep cut to his shoulder, believed to have been inflicted with a machete, and suffered significant blood loss.
Personnel from the Eastern Regional Police Command responded swiftly after the incident was reported. The victim was transported to the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua, where he received emergency medical attention. Hospital sources have indicated that his condition is stable and he remains under observation.
News of the stabbing quickly spread among students, heightening tension and fears of possible retaliatory attacks. In response, the Headmaster of Koforidua SECTECH, Emmanuel Frimpong Benjabeng, together with some members of staff, rushed to the Koforidua Youth Resource Centre, the main venue hosting the inter-schools sports festival. Their immediate goal was to calm students from SECTECH and prevent any reprisal actions that could escalate the situation.
At the time the stabbing occurred, Mr. Benjabeng was attending an official meeting with the New Juaben South Municipal Education Director, Mustapha Haruna Appiah, as part of ongoing coordination efforts for the festival. However, the meeting was abruptly interrupted when reports emerged of additional disturbances involving students from other schools.
Shortly after the first incident, it was reported that a teacher from Koforidua SECTECH, Henry Kudiabor, had also been injured during clashes near the sports venue. According to eyewitness accounts, the teacher sustained a head injury after being struck by a stone allegedly thrown during confrontations involving students of Nsutam Senior High Technical School. The situation reportedly involved stone-throwing among groups of students, further worsening the security situation.
The injured teacher was later attended to, though details about his medical condition have not been fully disclosed.
Reacting to the developments, Municipal Education Director Mustapha Haruna Appiah expressed deep concern over the recurring incidents of violence during inter-school activities. He described the situation as worrying and unacceptable, especially given the educational and unifying purpose of the festival.
He has called on the Ghana Police Service, school authorities and event organisers to conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents, identify those responsible, and ensure that appropriate disciplinary and legal actions are taken. He also stressed the need for enhanced security measures at future events, including increased police presence, better crowd control strategies and closer supervision of students.
The Eastern Regional Inter-Schools Sports Festival is an annual event that brings together senior high and technical schools to compete in various sporting disciplines, promote teamwork and foster peaceful interaction among students. However, the latest disturbances have renewed calls from parents, educators and civil society groups for stricter enforcement of rules governing student conduct during such gatherings.
As investigations continue, school authorities have urged students to remain calm and allow due process to take place, while emphasising the importance of discipline, tolerance and peaceful coexistence within and beyond the sporting arena.
Source: Africa Publicity
