The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced the immediate and indefinite suspension of all inter-school sporting activities involving Senior High Schools (SHS) and Senior High Technical Schools (SHTS) across the Central Region.
The directive, contained in a memorandum dated February 22, 2026, follows a series of violent clashes and serious cases of indiscipline reported during recent zonal athletics competitions.
The decision comes especially in the wake of a widely circulated video showing an assault on a student of Obrachire Senior High Technical School during a district athletics competition with students from Swedru School of Business in Agona Swedru on Thursday, February 19. The incident has raised serious concerns about student safety and proper conduct during school sports events.
In a statement signed by the Central Regional Director of Education, Juliette Dufie Otami, the Directorate expressed deep concern over incidents that have threatened the safety of students, staff, and spectators.
According to the statement, the core purpose of school sports — promoting discipline, teamwork, and mutual respect — has been undermined by acts of violence and misconduct, making it necessary to halt activities to restore order within the academic environment.
The directive, which takes immediate effect, instructs all heads of SHS and SHTS in the region to suspend every planned or ongoing zonal inter-school athletics competition until further notice.
School authorities have also been directed to communicate the decision to teaching and non-teaching staff, student bodies, and relevant local stakeholders. Management emphasised that strict compliance is required to maintain calm and prevent further disturbances.
GES explained that the suspension is a temporary measure intended to allow the Regional Education Directorate to conduct a comprehensive review of existing security arrangements.
“This temporary measure is intended to enable Management to undertake a thorough review of the prevailing situation, deliberate extensively with relevant stakeholders, and develop appropriate strategies and preventive mechanisms to forestall any recurrence,” the statement noted.
The Directorate, however, assured stakeholders of its commitment to restoring sporting activities once conditions guarantee safety, discipline, and the true spirit of healthy competition.
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Story by Xavier Mensah | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Erica Odeenyin Odoom
