BY Grace Zigah
Authorities have deployed military personnel to Bawku Senior High School in the Upper East Region following a violent disturbance by students that resulted in the destruction of school property, the alleged kidnapping of a teacher and the assault of another staff member.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, June 15, 2026, has raised fresh concerns about discipline and security within Ghana’s second-cycle educational institutions, particularly during the ongoing examination period.
According to education authorities, the unrest erupted at approximately 1:00 a.m. when a group of students reportedly went on a rampage across the school campus, causing extensive damage to facilities and disrupting normal academic activities.
The violence is said to have been triggered by a dispute over examination procedures involving some final-year students who are expected to complete their examinations later this week.
Confirming the incident, the Bawku Municipal Director of Education, Isaac Abweko Azasoo, disclosed that the disturbance stemmed from efforts by school authorities to prevent examination malpractice.
According to him, some students became agitated after management reportedly refused to allow attempts at cheating during the examinations.
What initially began as dissatisfaction over examination regulations allegedly escalated into a full-scale disturbance that left parts of the school damaged and staff members traumatized.
Azasoo explained that the situation quickly deteriorated as students allegedly turned their anger toward school authorities and teachers who were enforcing examination rules.
During the chaos, one teacher was reportedly abducted by some of the students under circumstances that are still being investigated.
Another teacher was physically attacked and sustained injuries during the disturbance.
The injured teacher was immediately rushed to a health facility for emergency treatment before being referred to Bolgatanga for further medical attention due to the severity of the injuries sustained.
Education officials have not yet disclosed the current condition of the injured teacher, but sources indicate that medical personnel are monitoring the situation closely.
The full extent of damage caused during the rampage is yet to be officially assessed.
However, preliminary reports suggest that several school facilities may have been vandalized as students moved through the campus during the disturbance.
Authorities are expected to conduct a comprehensive assessment to determine the financial cost of the destruction and identify affected infrastructure.
In response to the deteriorating security situation, military personnel were deployed to the school to restore calm and prevent further violence.
According to Azasoo, the intervention became necessary to ensure the safety of teachers, students and other personnel on campus.
“The military was brought in to prevent any further escalation of the situation and to ensure the safety of staff and students,” he stated.
The deployment has since helped restore order, allowing school authorities to regain control of the campus while investigations continue.
