BY Daniel Bampoe
The Member of Parliament for Abetifi and Ranking Member on Parliament’s Security and Intelligence Committee, Dr. Bryan Acheampong has filed an emergency motion in Parliament demanding urgent protection for schools in conflict-hit areas, following reports of armed attacks near educational facilities in Bawku and Nalerigu.
In his motion, filed on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, Dr. Acheampong urged Parliament to take immediate action to compel the state to establish what he called a National Educational Institution Protection Protocol —a structured security framework aimed at safeguarding pupils, teachers, and school infrastructure in regions grappling with violence.
“Children cannot go to school under the shadow of gunfire,” Dr. Acheampong stated.
“We must draw a line. If the Republic cannot guarantee the safety of our students and educators, then we are witnessing the breakdown of something fundamental.”
The move follows disturbing reports from the Upper East and North East regions, where renewed conflict in Bawku and Nalerigu has forced the closure of several schools.
Sometimes, students sitting for national examinations were relocated under military escort. Teaching and learning have ground to a halt, while the fear of attacks haunts many school communities.
Dr. Acheampong’s motion forms part of a broader emergency initiative he is leading in Parliament, calling for a Half-Hour Motion debate on what he describes as a national security emergency.
At the heart of his appeal is a call for coordinated, accountable, and non-partisan state action that prioritises the protection of civilians—especially children.
“This is not an issue for the executive alone,” he stated. “It is Parliament’s duty to rise to this occasion, to direct the country’s conscience toward urgent and lasting solutions.”
Though a seasoned public servant with previous roles at both the Ministries of Interior and National Security, Dr. Acheampong’s motion presses Parliament to act swiftly in the face of real and present danger.
In Bawku, repeated violence between factions has led to several deaths this month alone, with reports of stray bullets hitting homes and classrooms. In Nalerigu, similar tensions have forced teaching staff into self-imposed exile.
Dr Bryan Acheampong argues that without a clear state policy on educational security, these communities will continue to spiral into despair and dysfunction.
His proposed protocol, while yet to be debated, envisions a structured collaboration between the Ministries of Education, National Security, and Defence—ensuring schools in vulnerable areas receive priority protection.
He is also pushing for Parliament to demand regular reporting on safety outcomes in affected zones.
“The longer we wait, the more lives we risk. Parliament must act—not out of sympathy, but out of duty,” Acheampong said.
The Speaker is expected to rule on the admissibility of the motion in the coming days. If allowed, the resulting debate could place the safety of schoolchildren—and Parliament’s responsibility toward them—at the centre of Ghana’s national security conversation.
