On the same day the Ghana Education Service publicly confirmed the alleged gang rape of an Osino Senior High School student and the stabbing of a Koforidua Senior High Technical School student during last week’s regional sports competition, the Eastern Regional Education Directorate imposed sweeping sanctions on three schools.

The two official communications, both dated February 11, 2026, outline what appears to be a coordinated institutional response to incidents that marred the Super Zonal Sports Competition held at the Koforidua Youth Resource Centre from February 4 to 6. 

While the national headquarters in Accra confirmed the incidents and assured the public of support for the victims, the regional directorate in Koforidua announced disciplinary measures against the schools whose students were implicated.

In its statement, GES Headquarters confirmed the seriousness of the incidents that had circulated widely on social media.

“The reported incidents include a stabbing and an alleged gang-rape,” the service said. “Management condemns these acts in the strongest terms and emphasises that such behaviour has no place within the Ghana Education Service.”

According to the statement, the stabbing victim is a student of Koforidua Senior High Technical School. “The victim was allegedly attacked by students of New Juaben Senior High School,” GES reported, adding that the incident occurred about 200 metres from the competition venue when the student had gone out for lunch. One suspect is currently in police custody.

The second incident involved a female student of Osino Senior High School. “The reports further indicate that a female student of Osino Senior High School was allegedly raped in a bush at some distance from the competition grounds,” the statement said. Two students are in police custody, while a third suspect, described as “the alleged ringleader and an old student of Koforidua Senior High Technical School,” remains at large and is being sought by police.

GES said the female student “has received medical attention and has since been discharged from the hospital. She is being provided with counselling and psychosocial support by the Regional Guidance and Counselling Coordinator, the Head of the Girls’ Education Unit, and officers of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit.” The stabbing victim has also been discharged after receiving treatment.

As the national office addressed the criminal aspects of the case, the Eastern Regional Directorate issued a separate directive signed by the Regional Director, Dr Ivy Asantewaa Owusu, imposing a two-year ban on Koforidua Senior High Technical School, New Juaben Senior High School and New Nsutam Senior High Technical School.

Citing section 2.17 of the GES Code of Conduct on Physical and Psychological Violence and provisions of the Eastern Region Schools and Colleges Sports Association Code of Discipline, the directive stated: “The students in your school were found engaging in acts of hooliganism which are unacceptable and contradicts to the rule of discipline in GES.”

Under the sanctions, the three schools are barred from “organizing, spectating or taking part in all Sporting Activities including Quizzes, Debates, Cadetting and Entertainments, in the School, Zone and Region” for two years with immediate effect.

Each school has also been fined GH¢500 and “surcharged to pay for the cost of any damage/injury to Property or Individual which shall be determined by a Committee based on the extent of the damage/injury.”

The directive extends responsibility beyond current students, instructing heads of the affected schools to ensure that “students, staff, old students and other supporters adhere to all rules and regulations.”