Hon Gizella Akushika Tetteh-Agbotui
Awutu Senya West

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to make this Statement on the floor of this august House.

Mr Speaker, on Saturday, 21st February, 2026, while undertaking my regular constituency engagements, I came across a disturbing video circulating on social media which showed students brutally assaulting a colleague student.

Upon reviewing the video more carefully, I noticed that the assaulted student was in the uniform of Obrachire Senior High Technical School (OSTECH), one of the oldest senior high schools in my constituency, with a student population of 1,795 and under the double track system. This is a school which my late father, Dr. E.A.Tetteh, benevolently donated a parcel of land for its establishment in his hometown, Obrachire.

Mr Speaker, I immediately contacted my colleague Member of Parliament for Agona West, Hon Ernestina Dangbe as the incident occurred in a school in her constituency; the Swedru School of Business (SWESBU) and also placed a call to the Headmistress of OSTECH to gain further insight into the unfortunate incident, which resulted in four students sustaining severe injuries and being hospitalised.

Mr Speaker, according to accounts gathered, there has been a longstanding rivalry between OSTECH and SWESBU. Historically, this rivalry has manifested during zonal sporting activities, particularly athletics competitions. However, on this occasion, matters escalated beyond acceptable limits.

Mr Speaker, the school authorities report that OSTECH participated in a Zonal Inter-School Athletics Competition hosted by SWESBUS on 19th and 20th February, 2026. During the event, a clash ensued between students of Swedru School of Business (the host) and Obrachire Senior High/Technical School.

Mr Speaker, students from OSTECH had gathered near a dormitory block close to the sports field when, in what began as rivalry, some SWESBUS students allegedly started throwing stones from the upper floor of the dormitory block into the OSTECH crowd. In the process, Shadrach Appiah, a second-year OSTECH student, was struck by a stone and fell unconscious. He was rushed to the Swedru Municipal Hospital, where he was resuscitated from a critical state. Fortunately, no fatality was recorded.

Mr Speaker, it is further alleged that students from some neighboring schools in Swedru joined in pursuing OSTECH students out of the host school, resulting in individual attacks on vulnerable and innocent students. Nathaniel Mireku (2T3B), the student seen in the viral video, was among those attacked.

Mr Speaker, other OSTECH students who sustained varying degrees of injuries include:
• Akpaka Kobi Fiadzigbe (2T1) – Eye injury;
• Joshua Quartey (2V1) – Minor head injury;
• Emmanuel Mensah (2T3B) – Minor head injury; and
• Raymond Asare (2T3A) – Hip injury.

These students are currently assisting school management and the Police in investigations and I am taking full responsibility for their further medical examinations at the Winneba Trauma Hospital.

Mr Speaker, I have formally reported the matter to the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service,to intervene which he has done so. Engagements with the Hon Ministers for Sports and Recreation and Education have taken place. The head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police service has visited both schools.

I also visited OSTECH yesterday to meet the staff and students and assure them of all support needed from various institutions and relevant stakeholders to ensure that:
• A full and impartial investigation is conducted;
• Individuals found culpable are held accountable in accordance with the law;
• Adequate support, including counselling and protection, is provided to the affected students and student body at large for both schools;
• Adequate security protection for all schools’ sports festivals.

Mr Speaker, I wish to state unequivocally that I strongly condemn any form of violence, abuse, or inhumane treatment against students — not because they are from my hometown or constituency — but because such actions are unacceptable, unlawful, heartless, wicked and contrary to the values of dignity, respect, and protection that must guide our treatment of young people.

Mr Speaker, my concern is on reprisal attacks and other videos on social media with subtle threats and undertones. We have assured parents and guardians of the safety of their wards and will continue to do so.

Mr Speaker, I further call on the school community and all my constituents to remain calm and allow due process to take its course. As the Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya West Constituency, I remain fully committed to safeguarding the rights and well-being of all students and to ensuring that such regrettable incidents are not repeated in any institution within our jurisdiction. I thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to make this Statement.