A violent student riot that set parts of the Bolgatanga Technical Institute (BOTECH) ablaze on Friday, August 15 has forced authorities to shut down the school indefinitely.

Both the library and the senior housemaster’s office sustained damage in the clash. The altercation is said to have began on Thursday, August 14 and intensified on Friday, August, 15. Meanwhile, authorities are yet to an official statement on the cause of the chaos.

Violence in SHSs has become a trend in the country. Seven months into the year, Ghana has recorded over five violent clashes in SHSs. These incidents have witnessed students possessing weapons, destroying property, and others engaging in brutal confrontations.

Earlier this year, Kinbu Secondary Technical and Accra Technical Centre School were involved in a heated altercation, adding to the number of melees recorded this year.

Stakeholders have bemoaned the growing indiscipline and insecurity on school campuses, prompting calls for an immediate intervention.

Recently, authorities at Sokode Senior High Technical School temporarily shut down the premises over a violent misunderstanding between students.

Kumasi Technical Institute (KTI) and Kumasi Anglican Senior High School clashed after returning from an inter-school competition. One student sustained severe injuries as a result of the event; school properties and private cars belonging to teachers were also damaged.

Salaga Senior High School in the Savannah Region observed the most violent clashes. The confrontation left a student with multiple stab wounds, with the police retrieving a locally-produced pistol and ammunition from the scene. Students of Islamic Senior High School (ISSEC) also faced off with local youth, causing injuries and damage to multiple vehicles.

Months ago, a 16-year-old form two student of Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School (OKESS) was arrested by the Tafo Pankrono Divisional Police Command for illegally possessing a locally manufactured firearm.

The police arrested the suspect following a routine dormitory search by school authorities on Wednesday, May 14. According to the accused, the weapon belonged to his stepfather, Mr. Daniel Owusu Baafi, who has been apprehended.

This was disclosed by the Deputy Superintendent of Police Godwin Ahianyo, Head of Public Affairs for the Ashanti Regional Police Command, on Sunday, May 18. Following their arrest, both individuals were granted bail and are to report to the police on Monday, May 19, as investigations continue.

Last month, a fisticuff between two final-year students of Wa T.I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School (Wa Amass) has left one hospitalised and in critical condition, according to reports. It is reported that Iddrisu Ibrahim, also known as Lincoln—an agricultural science student—and his colleague Hafis, who is also known as Baayaawa—a general arts student—engaged in an argument over a video that was recorded.It is said that Lincoln filmed Hafis without his consent—an action that left the latter displeased. He requested Lincoln to delete the said video, but Lincoln reportedly refused. When matters escalated, Hafis pulled out a knife and stabbed his colleague in the stomach and ribs.Amid the many violent clashes, the Ministry of Education has granted school heads at Senior High Schools (SHS) across the country the mandate to conduct searches on students.

Deputy Minister for Education Clement Apaak, in May, noted that the action is a part of the government's series of strategies to eradicate indiscipline in schools, specifically SHSs.

The Deputy Minister has also indicated that Parent Teachers Association (PTA) meetings will be reinstated to ensure teachers and parents collaborate as well as share concerns. This was realised last month.A directive from President John Dramani Mahama has necessitated the reinstatement of Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) in pre-tertiary schools across the country.

This was disclosed by the Head of Public Relations at Ghana Education Service (GES), Daniel Fenyi, on Thursday, July 17. The move, he explained, will ensure effective collaboration between parents and teachers for quality education for students.

“All heads of public senior high schools, technical, and STEM schools are to operationalise the reinstatement with immediate effect. This move is aimed at strengthening the collaboration and involvement of parents, communities, and teachers in the delivery of quality education to Ghanaian learners,” parts of the statement added.

Recently, the Ministry of Education has ordered a comprehensive review of security arrangements in schools across the nation in response to recurring violent incidents, specifically in the Senior High Schools (SHSs) that have claimed the lives of students.

The Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, who was addressing the media on Thursday, August 7, 2025 fumed about the chaos in SHSs describing them as “deeply troubling and unacceptable.”

“We must work more closely with our security agencies and law enforcement to ensure our schools remain safe spaces for learning. Even our concept of a ‘watchman’ in educational institutions needs to be revisited.

“Do we just pick anyone and label them school security? With no training in policing or even basic security practices?.We need to review this so we can foster a safer school environment for both students and teachers,” he added.

His comments follow the death of a 15-year-old student of Kinbu Senior High School (SHS), which occurred on July 31. Addib Alhassan was fatally stabbed during an altercation allegedly sparked by a heated argument.

The exact cause of the confrontation remains unclear. After sustaining injuries, Alhassan was initially rushed to the Adabraka Polyclinic and later transferred to the Ridge Hospital due to the severity of his injuries. He was later pronounced dead.

In reaction to the unfortunate incident, the Member of Parliament for Klottey-Korle, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, strongly condemned the murder, describing it as both tragic and senseless.

She expressed deep shock and sorrow over the stabbing in a statement she released on Friday, July 31, 2025. “I strongly condemn this act of violence, and I will collaborate with the Ghana Police Service and other relevant authorities to ensure that thorough investigations are swiftly done and that justice is served,” she said.

The Member of Parliament stressed that schools must remain a safe haven for studies and personal development. She encouraged a joint effort from education and security authorities to ensure stronger safety measures are in place across all institutions.

“This tragedy must be a wake-up call for all stakeholders in the education and security sectors to prevent such incidents from recurring,” she stated. Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings offered her condolences to the bereaved family and the Kinbu SHS community, including students and staff.

She made a commitment to partner with the Ghana Education Service (GES), school leadership, and security agencies to strengthen safety and mental health support structures in schools across her constituency.

Earlier this year, Kinbu Secondary Technical and Accra Technical Centre School were involved in a heated altercation, adding to the number of melees recorded this year.

Violence in SHSs has become a trend in the country. Seven months into the year, Ghana has recorded over five violent clashes in SHSs. These incidents have witnessed students possessing weapons, destroying property, and others engaging in brutal confrontations.

Stakeholders have bemoaned the growing indiscipline and insecurity on school campuses, prompting calls for an immediate intervention. Recently, authorities at Sokode Senior High Technical School temporarily shut down the premises over a violent misunderstanding between students.

Kumasi Technical Institute (KTI) and Kumasi Anglican Senior High School clashed after returning from an inter-school competition. One student sustained severe injuries as a result of the event; school properties and private cars belonging to teachers were also damaged.

Salaga Senior High School in the Savannah Region observed the most violent clashes. The confrontation left a student with multiple stab wounds, with the police retrieving locally-produced pistol and ammunition from the scene. Students of Islamic Senior High School (ISSEC) also faced off with local youth, causing injuries and damages to multiple vehicles.

Months ago, a 16-year-old form two student of Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School (OKESS) was arrested by the Tafo Pankrono Divisional Police Command for illegally possessing a locally manufactured firearm.

The police arrested the suspect following a routine dormitory search by school authorities on Wednesday, May 14. According to the accused, the weapon belonged to his stepfather, Mr. Daniel Owusu Baafi, who has been apprehended.

This was disclosed by the Deputy Superintendent of Police Godwin Ahianyo, Head of Public Affairs for the Ashanti Regional Police Command, on Sunday, May 18. Following their arrest, both individuals were granted bail and are to report to the police on Monday, May 19, as investigations continue.

A fisticuff between two final-year students of Wa T.I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School (Wa Amass) has left one hospitalised and in critical condition, according to reports. It is reported that Iddrisu Ibrahim, also known as Lincoln—an agricultural science student—and his colleague Hafis, who is also known as Baayaawa—a general arts student—engaged in an argument over a video that was recorded.

It is said that Lincoln filmed Hafis without his consent—an action that left the latter displeased. He requested Lincoln to delete the said video, but Lincoln reportedly refused. When matters escalated, Hafis pulled out a knife and stabbed his colleague in the stomach and ribs.

Amid the many violent clashes, the Ministry of Education has granted school heads at Senior High Schools (SHS) across the country the mandate to conduct searches on students.

Deputy Minister for Education Clement Apaak in May noted that the action is a part of the government's series of strategies to eradicate indiscipline in schools, specifically SHSs.

The Deputy Minister has also indicated that Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meetings will be reinstated to ensure teachers and parents collaborate and share concerns. This was realised last month.

A directive from President John Dramani Mahama has necessitated the reinstatement of Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) in primary and secondary schools across the country. This was disclosed by Daniel Fenyi, the Head of Public Relations at the Ghana Education Service (GES), on Thursday, July 17.

The move, he explained, will ensure effective collaboration between parents and teachers for quality education for students.

“All heads of public senior high schools, technical, and STEM schools are to operationalise the reinstatement with immediate effect. This move is aimed at strengthening the collaboration and involvement of parents, communities, and teachers in the delivery of quality education to Ghanaian learners,” parts of the statement added.