The Ghana Education Service (GES) has condemned the assault on Obuasi Senior High Technical School headmaster Abdulai Zakaria and warned that any students found to have taken part in, or encouraged, the attack will face disciplinary and legal action.
GES said Mr Zakaria was injured after being attacked by a group of students at the school. The Service described the incident as a serious breach of discipline and said violence or intimidation would not be accepted in Ghana’s schools.
“The incident, which resulted in injuries to the Headmaster, is deeply regrettable and completely unacceptable. Violence, intimidation, and acts of indiscipline have no place in our schools,” the GES said in a statement.
The statement was signed by the Service’s Head of Public Relations, Daniel Fenyi.
GES has begun an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, working with the security agencies to establish what happened and identify those responsible.
It said anyone found to have participated in the assault, or to have instigated it, would be dealt with under the law and the GES Code of Conduct. The Service did not specify the possible sanctions, but said both disciplinary and legal measures would be considered.
The education authority also urged students who have complaints or concerns to use the established grievance procedures rather than resorting to violence or any other unlawful behaviour.
It called on parents and guardians to support efforts to maintain discipline in schools. Community leaders and other stakeholders in the education sector were also asked to help promote respect for authority and peaceful coexistence within educational institutions.
GES said its wider priority remained the protection of students and staff and the preservation of a safe environment in which teaching and learning could take place.
The Service reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing discipline across Ghana’s educational institutions while ensuring that schools remain secure and suitable for education.
The assault has prompted a firm response from the national education authority, which said acts of violence against school officials could not be treated as ordinary student misconduct. Its investigation, carried out alongside security agencies, is expected to determine the full circumstances of the attack and guide any further action.
GES’s warning applies both to students who may have directly attacked Mr Zakaria and to anyone who may have encouraged or organised the incident. It also reiterated that concerns within schools must be raised through recognised channels, allowing them to be addressed without threats, intimidation or physical confrontation.
