The Ghana Education Service (GES) has suspended all zonal sporting activities among Senior High Schools (SHSs) and Senior High Technical Schools (SHTSs) in the Central Region following violent disturbances at a recent athletics competition.
According to reports, the directive takes immediate effect and will remain in place until further notice. The decision was taken after clashes between students marred a zonal athletics event, raising serious safety concerns for participants, officials and spectators.
Incident at Agona Swedru
The suspension follows a violent confrontation during a district athletics meet held in Agona Swedru. Reports indicate that tensions escalated between students of Obrachire Senior High Technical School and Swedru School of Business (SWESBUS), resulting in physical assaults.
Eyewitness accounts and videos circulating on social media showed a student allegedly being attacked with sticks and stones. The injured student was subsequently taken to a health facility for medical treatment.
Police Investigation Underway
The Ghana Police Service has begun investigations into the incident. Authorities say efforts are underway to identify those involved and ensure accountability.
GES Stresses Discipline and Safety
In its communication to school heads, GES emphasized that the violent behavior contradicts the core values of discipline, sportsmanship and healthy competition that inter-school sports are meant to promote. The Service noted that the suspension is necessary to prevent further unrest and to allow time for a review of security measures at school sporting events.
GES assured stakeholders that competitions will resume only after adequate steps have been taken to guarantee the safety of students and restore order to zonal activities in the region.