President of the Psychiatric Association of Ghana (PAG), Dr. Ruth Owusu-Antwi says disciplinary action to be handed the student recorded in a viral video bullying his junior must not be such that it hinders him from continuing his schooling.

Although she acknowledged that the conduct of the perpetrator was wrong and deserves punishment, she contended that the form of punishment that could make him a school dropout, was not the right way to address the matter.

In an interview on JoyNews’ AM Show, Dr Ruth Owusu-Antwi asserted that “There are several forms of punitive measures that will be meted out but I am just sending a sign of caution that letting this young man drop out of school should not be one of our options. By all means, he should be punished but we should not let him end up on the streets.

“He becomes more dangerous, comes after us as adults, other children. He gets even the opportunity to become worse off, join bad groups into substance abuse or he may even lose his life. So, please, yes, he should be punished but I think that the punishment should not deprive him of his academics,” she advised.

The Psychiatric Association of Ghana's president emphasised that in the course of administering the necessary punishment, it is essential that the offender be made to understand the grave impact of his behaviour on both himself and the victim.  

She also advised that aside from punishing the perpetrator, he should also be given counselling.

Dr Owusu-Antwi’s advice follows a viral video that showed a senior from the Adisadel College, assaulting his junior.

In the video, the perpetrator is seen choking and slamming the head of his victim into the frame of a bunk bed in their dormitory.

This caused an immediate swelling and a cut on the victim’s cheek.

Since the video went viral, JoyNews sources indicate that the perpetrator has been suspended, and the victim is also being made to face a Disciplinary Committee for failing to report the incident to school authorities.

The Housemaster of the Quaque House in which the incident happened, has also been relieved of his duties. This was disclosed in a letter from the school, signed by the headmaster, Mr. Samuel Kofi Agudogo.

The Ghana Educational Service (GES) also released a statement on Monday, July 24, assuring that the Regional Director of Education has been instructed to liaise with the school authorities and relevant law enforcement agencies to investigate the matter and take appropriate action.

A similar action has been directed by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, who has asked that the bully be prosecuted.