Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has declared that teachers who sexually abuse or harass female students will face strict sanctions, stressing that transfers will not be used as a form of punishment for such misconduct.

Speaking at the 2025 Ghana Teacher Prize in Ho, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang condemned incidents of violence and misconduct in schools, describing them as “a betrayal of trust” and a stain on the teaching profession.

"Leadership cannot ignore those teachers and others in positions of power who abuse our young people. The recent events involving one of our teachers in a management position are a case in point. As teachers, we must always remember that we are placed in a position of trust, protection, and empathy. The power given to us is to facilitate learning. We will not wait to apply sanctions to those who violate this trust," she said.

She further stressed that transfers would not be tolerated as disciplinary action for such serious offences. “Transfers are not punishments. So they should never be used for those who abuse our children, who betray their trust, and those who disgrace our profession. The government has also decided to revive PTAs to encourage broader participation in forming our young learners,” she stated.

Her comments follow two high-profile cases of alleged sexual misconduct within the past week. At KNUST Senior High School, the Assistant Headmaster in charge of Academics was removed after a video showed him in a compromising situation with a female student. In a separate incident at Okadjakrom Senior High Technical School in the Oti Region, a teacher was interdicted after a video implicating him in sexual misconduct went viral.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) condemned both cases as “unacceptable, unethical and a clear violation of professional conduct,” emphasising that safeguarding students remains a top priority.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang described teachers as “architects of possibility,” responsible not only for imparting knowledge but also for shaping character and values in students. She urged educators to embrace mentorship, innovation, and lifelong learning, reminding them of their lasting influence beyond the classroom.

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Meanwhile, the Vice President announced the revival of Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) nationwide, calling for stronger community involvement to monitor schools. She also praised the ongoing collaboration with teacher unions and the National Teaching Council, which continues to work toward professionalising teaching, enforcing discipline, and maintaining standards.

Also speaking at the event, President of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Rev. Isaac Owusu, condemned the inappropriate conduct toward female students, warning teachers against betraying their duty of care.

“We disassociate ourselves as your union leaders from this bad behaviour,” Rev. Owusu said. “On our staff and in our communities, we have single female teachers—do not harm the students we are entrusted to teach,” he cautioned.