The Ghana Education Service (GES) in the Eastern Region has imposed a two-year ban on Koforidua Senior High Technical School (SHTS), New Juaben Senior High School (SHS), and New Nsutam Senior High Technical School (SHTS) from all sporting and co-curricular activities.

The ban prohibits the schools from organising, participating in, or attending events such as quizzes, debates, cadet programs, and entertainment activities. Each school has also been fined GHC 500 and will be liable for any costs arising from property damage or injuries.

Eastern Regional Director of Education, Ivy Asantewa Owusu, announced the sanctions in a press release following reported incidents of gang rape and stabbing during a recent inter-school sports competition in Koforidua.

The directive aligns with Section 2.17 of the GES Code of Conduct on physical and psychological violence and the Eastern Region Schools and Colleges Sports Association Code of Discipline, including Article VII on disturbances and hooliganism and Article VIII on sanctions and punishments.

“The schools were found to have students involved in acts of hooliganism, which violate GES discipline standards,” the statement noted.

Two underage students have been arrested in connection with the alleged gang rape of a student during the sports event and are facing prosecution. A third suspect, believed to be a former student, remains at large.

The police have charged the suspects with conspiracy to commit a crime, specifically rape, and the act of rape itself. In a separate incident, another student was arrested for allegedly stabbing a fellow student near the sports stadium.