Education Ministry and Police Crack Down on Student Indiscipline and Post-WASSCE Vandalism

The Ministry of Education has launched a series of investigations and disciplinary actions following a surge in student indiscipline, ranging from physical assault to the targeted destruction of school property. Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, has confirmed that the Ghana Education Service (GES) is now spearheading efforts to identify and sanction students involved in recent viral incidents. This intervention comes as the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) period concludes, a time that has been marred by reported lawlessness among some final-year students across the country.

A central focus of the ministry’s current intervention is a viral video depicting a student physically assaulting another, an incident that has sparked widespread national concern regarding school safety. Dr. Apaak noted that the ministry is fully aware of the footage and has tasked the GES to conduct a thorough probe to identify the perpetrators. The GES is expected to apply the appropriate sanctions in line with its established code of conduct, with the Ministry emphasizing that such violent behavior will not be tolerated within the educational system.

In addition to addressing physical violence, the Ministry and law enforcement are taking a hard line against the vandalism of school infrastructure. In the Volta North Region, the police have arrested three former students of Hohoe E.P. Senior High School—Rashid Suraj Dakpo, Alhassan Mohammed, and Abdul Kadri Abdulai—for allegedly damaging the school’s water pipeline following their final examinations. The suspects, all aged 19 and 20, were identified through video footage and are currently being processed for trial. This follows similar reports of severe vandalism at Bawku SHS, where students reportedly reacted violently to strict examination invigilation by assaulting teachers and destroying school property.

To curb this trend of property destruction, the Ministry of Education has instructed all Senior High School authorities to meticulously document and report incidents of vandalism through formal GES structures. Dr. Apaak emphasized that students found guilty of vandalizing educational infrastructure will be held strictly accountable, ensuring they do not go unpunished. Simultaneously, the Volta North Regional Police Command and educational authorities are appealing to parents and guardians to reinforce the importance of discipline, warning that the full rigours of the law will be applied to any student engaging in criminal conduct.