The Eastern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has now instructed the closure of Okuapeman Senior High School and Mount Sinai Senior High School in the Akuapem North Municipality as a result of violent student clashes which caused injuries and led to the burning of the school buildings. Editorial Ethics & Independence
The decision was made following a visit by REGSEC to assess the damage caused by the retaliatory attacks at the two schools, with several buildings being destroyed during the attacks and six students from Okuapeman SHS having to go to hospital after suffering injuries.
The event took place around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, 2nd September 2026, and the precise reason that set off the attacks is still unknown; however, the situation developed into a violent confrontation which caused damage to the property of both schools.
The headmaster of Okuapeman SHS stated that six students were sent to hospital after the incident; four of them have now received treatment and been discharged, while two are still in admission.
The violence also led to severe damage being done to the facilities at Okuapeman SHS, with the school’s Visual Arts studio, a teachers’ office and seven other classrooms being reported to have been burnt down.
Furthermore, the examination papers and certificates were destroyed in the fire, which may have impacted some important academic records and materials.The store room and the boys’ washroom at Mount Sinai Senior High School were also the places that were set on fire during the incident.
After having assessed the situation, REGSEC ordered that both schools should be temporarily closed in order to avoid further escalation and so that the authorities could carry out their investigation. Editorial Standards
On Wednesday September 2, the students of Mount Sinai SHS were told to leave the campus before 1 p.m, and the students of Okuapeman SHS were expected to leave the school in the morning of Thursday, September 3.
At a meeting held after the incident, Ghana’s Eastern Regional Director of Education, Dr. Ivy Asantewaa, called the situation unfortunate and stated that the Ghana Education Service (GES) would not offer protection to any students found to have taken part in the violence.
It isn’t possible for one person to take on the task alone; it takes two or more. We are not satisfied by what has taken place.
Since you are here to study and to live a morally upright life, you had better behave properly, she said.Dr. Asantewaa asked the students to stay focused on their studies and to behave responsibly, emphasizing the need to keep a disciplined atmosphere within the school.
The Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Owusu-Bempah, had likewise been concerned about the behaviour of certain students during the incident, especially in view of the reports that students had attacked the police officers who had been sent to the schools in the early phase of the unrest. Newscard
The man promised the two schools that the police would make an effort to find out who was responsible for the violence and would hand them over to the law.
The commander’s comments come at a time when the police are still investigating the circumstances relating to the clashes and the destruction of property.
Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, who is both the Chairperson of REGSEC and the Eastern Regional Minister, has expressed her disappointment about the incident, especially since the government is currently engaged in retooling schools and improving the infrastructure at the country’s senior high schools.
“She stated that the investigations were still going on and cautioned that anyone who was found to have taken part in the act of destruction would meet the proper legal consequences.”
“She stated that they were building a nation, not destroying one, that they were carrying out a reset which would include a reset of you, and that investigations were underway and those who had begun throwing stones would not go unpunished.”
It is expected that the temporary closure of both institutions will allow the authorities to evaluate the damage, restore a sense of calm, and decide on the necessary actions for the safe return of the students. Corrections Policy
The incident has also caused worry regarding student discipline, the way conflicts are resolved and security in senior high schools; although the exact circumstances which led to the confrontation have not yet been determined, the damage done to the classrooms and academic materials shows the broader effects of violent disagreements within educational institutions.
The authorities are still going to carry out investigations in order to find out how the clash started, to identify the people involved and to ascertain the circumstances which caused the attacks on the school premises and the security staff.At the moment, the main concern is still the safety of the students and staff, the care of those who have been injured and getting order back at both schools.
As the inquiries continue and the officials decide when it is possible to resume normal academic activities, more information is expected.