The Ministry of Education has condemned acts of violence captured in videos linked to a disturbance at the District Schools Athletics Games in Agona Swedru, Central Region, and ordered an immediate investigation by the Ghana Education Service (GES).
Deputy Minister for Education Dr Clement Abas Apaak, in a statement, described the scenes as unacceptable and directed the GES Director-General to look into the matter without delay. The Director-General has been instructed to convene a meeting at the GES headquarters in Accra at 10:00am on February 23, 2026, bringing together the Central Regional Director of GES, the relevant district directors, and heads of the two schools involved.
“Even as we await the report from the Director-General of the GES, let me state that the Minister for Education and I take a very serious view of these acts of violence. Consequently, the culprits and perpetrators can expect the most severe sanctions,” Dr Apaak said.
The directive follows a violent incident that disrupted an inter-schools athletics competition held on February 19 in Agona Swedru, involving students of Obrachire Senior High Technical School and Swedru School of Business (SWESBUS). The Ghana Police Service has also opened a separate investigation into the matter.
According to eyewitness accounts, tensions between students of both schools escalated during the competition, resulting in a physical confrontation. A student from Obrachire Senior High Technical School was allegedly set upon by a group believed to be affiliated with SWESBUS, and was struck with sticks and pelted with stones before bystanders stepped in to restore order.
Videos of the incident, which circulated widely on social media, showed scenes of confusion around the injured student as the violence unfolded. The student was subsequently taken to a health facility, where he is currently receiving treatment.