OKESS Student Arrested for Possessing Locally Manufactured Pistol
Second Firearm Incident in a Month Raises Alarm Over School Safety
A male boarding student of Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School (OKESS) in Kumasi has been arrested after he was found in possession of a locally manufactured pistol, sparking renewed concerns about safety and discipline in Ghana’s senior high schools.
According to reports, the weapon was discovered during a routine security search conducted by school authorities, who quickly alerted the police. The student was immediately apprehended and is currently in police custody, assisting with investigations.
Another Gun Incident in a Senior High School
This disturbing development comes just weeks after a similar incident at Adventist Senior High School in Bantama, also in Kumasi. In that case, a male student allegedly brought a locally manufactured pistol to school and accidentally discharged it, injuring a female student in the eye. The victim was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, where she underwent emergency treatment.
Education stakeholders and civil society organisations have since intensified calls for stricter security measures on school campuses and tighter control over the illegal circulation of firearms.
Education Authorities React
Officials from the Ghana Education Service (GES) in the Ashanti Region have condemned the growing trend and announced immediate steps to tighten surveillance in schools, particularly boarding houses. The Regional Education Director, Mary Owusu Afriyie, assured the public that the necessary disciplinary measures will be taken and urged parents to be more involved in monitoring the behaviour of their wards.
Meanwhile, police investigations continue as they work to determine how the student came into possession of the weapon and whether there are broader security threats within the school community.
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