GES Holds Crisis Meeting Over Violence at Inter-School Sports Competitions

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has held a crisis meeting to address recent incidents of violence and assault recorded during ongoing inter-school sports competitions in parts of the Central Region.

The meeting, which took place on Monday, February 23, 2026, was chaired by the Director-General of GES, Professor Ernest Kofi Davis, and attended by members of the Service’s management team and education officials from the Central Region.

The Central Regional delegation included the Regional Director of Education, Dr. Mrs Juliette Dufie Otami; Agona West Municipal Director of Education, Mr Bismark Mfaafo Offei; Cape Coast Metro Director of Education, Mr Thomas Kwofie; Abura Asebu Kwamankesse District Director of Education, Madam Mary Cudjoe; and Acting Awutu Senya District Director of Education, Mr Frank Etrue Hayford. Heads of affected schools, sports coordinators, students, parents, and the Technical Advisor to the Minister for Education, Professor George K.T. Oduro, were also present.

During the meeting, the regional education team presented detailed eyewitness accounts of the incidents. They explained the circumstances that led to the violence, outlined immediate actions taken, and proposed measures to improve safety and security during future inter-school sporting events.

Professor Davis strongly condemned the acts of violence and expressed dissatisfaction with the level of aggression displayed by some students. He stressed that such behaviour undermines the values of discipline, sportsmanship, and mutual respect that school sports competitions are meant to promote.

He noted that school sporting activities serve as important platforms for discovering and nurturing talent while promoting unity among schools. According to him, sports such as football have become increasingly lucrative, and talented students must be guided and supported to build successful careers.

The Director-General also endorsed the Central Regional Director’s decision to suspend all sporting activities in the region pending a full investigation into the incidents.

GES management clarified that no death was recorded, contrary to reports circulating in some sections of the media. The student who was mistakenly reported dead attended the meeting. Other affected students who were hospitalised have since been discharged and are receiving medical care.

GES further disclosed that suspects involved in the assaults have been arrested and are assisting the police with investigations.

Professor Davis concluded that any student found to have engaged in acts of violence would face appropriate sanctions in line with Ghanaian law and the regulations of the Ghana Education Service.