BY Issah Olegor
The violent assault on a teacher at Kade Senior High Technical School (SHTS) in the Eastern Region has entered a critical judicial phase, following the remand of five accused persons by the Kade District Court.
The development marks a major step in a case that has unsettled the education sector and reignited concerns over rising indiscipline and attacks on teachers within second-cycle institutions.
On Wednesday, the court ordered that four of the accused persons, all above the age of 18, be remanded into prison custody, while a fifth suspect, a 17-year-old juvenile, was remanded into police custody.
The juvenile’s case is expected to be handled separately by a Juvenile Court, in line with the child justice procedures.
All five accused persons pleaded guilty to their roles in the attack and are scheduled to reappear before the court on January 20, 2026.
The court proceedings were emotionally charged, as family members of the accused, alongside some of the suspects themselves, broke down in tears when they were escorted into a police vehicle after the court decision.
The scenes underscored the gravity of the moment, not just for the families involved but also for an education system grappling with increasing incidents of violence against educators.
The victim, Michael Quayson, is a teacher at Kade SHTS who became the target of a brutal assault after enforcing strict supervision during examinations.
According to investigations, the incident dates back to the evening of October 5, 2025, when Quayson was ambushed while returning home from town.
He was allegedly attacked by eight individuals, including some former students of the school, and beaten for nearly 20 minutes.
A video of the assault later surfaced on social media, triggering nationwide outrage and condemnation from teachers, parents, and civil society groups.
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, only one suspect was arrested and later granted bail, while several others went into hiding.
The slow pace of arrests initially heightened tensions within the education sector, prompting the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) to issue a 14-day ultimatum in December 2025 to the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ghana Police Service.
The union demanded the swift arrest and prosecution of all perpetrators, warning that failure to act could lead to an indefinite nationwide sit-down strike by teachers, potentially disrupting the 2025/2026 academic calendar.
Speaking after the court’s ruling, the Eastern Regional Chairman of NAGRAT, Awoonor-Yevu Godwin, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, describing it as a strong signal that indiscipline and violence in schools will not be tolerated.
He noted that the accused persons admitted their guilt before the court, which, in his view, reaffirmed confidence in the justice system.
Awoonor-Yevu disclosed that although eight individuals were involved in the attack, only five have so far been arrested, with three suspects still at large.
He clarified that some of the alleged attackers are not current students of Kade SHTS, a detail that has broadened the scope of the investigation.
He further praised the presiding judge for demonstrating firmness and commitment to upholding discipline within educational institutions.
The NAGRAT regional chairman also used the occasion to caution students across the country to remain focused on their education and avoid negative influences that could derail their futures.Additionally, Awoonor-Yevu commended the Inspector-General of Police for the swift response following NAGRAT’s public agitation, noting that the timely arrests helped avert an impending nationwide strike.
He also acknowledged the roles played by the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service and the Eastern Regional Director of Education, Dr. Ivy Uso-Asantewa, in ensuring sustained pressure for justice.
