The Ghana Education Service has banned three senior high schools in the Eastern Region from all sporting and co-curricular activities for two years following alleged incidents of gang rape and stabbing during an inter-school sports competition.
Koforidua Senior High Technical School, New Juaben Senior High School, and New Nsutem Senior High Technical School are barred from organising, participating in, or spectating at any such events, including quizzes, debates, cadet programmes and entertainment programmes.
In addition to the suspension, each school has been fined GHC 500 and will be surcharged for any costs related to property damage or injuries sustained during the incidents.
The sanctions were announced in a statement by Eastern Regional Director of Education Ivy Asantewa Owusu, who cited violations of the GES Code of Conduct on physical and psychological violence, as well as the Eastern Region Schools and Colleges Sports Association Code of Discipline.
The release specifically invoked Article VII, which addresses disturbances, riots and hooliganism, and Article VIII on sanctions and punishment.
According to the GES, students from the affected schools engaged in acts of hooliganism that flagrantly breached the discipline standards expected of educational institutions.
Meanwhile, two minors have been arrested in connection with the alleged gang rape of a student in a bush near the competition grounds. A third suspect, believed to be an old student, is currently on the run.
Police have charged the two suspects in custody with conspiracy to commit a crime, to wit rape, and rape.