The Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Professor Ernest Kofi Davis, along with his Management Team, convened emergency meeting on Monday, February 23.

This meeting was in response to incidents of violence and assault recorded during the inter-school sports competitions in several districts of the Central Region.

The Central Regional delegation was composed of notable figures, including the Regional Director of Education, Dr Mrs Juliette Dufie Otami; the Agona West Municipal Director of Education, Mr Bismark Mfaafo Offei; the Cape Coast Metro Director of Education, Mr Thomas Kwofie; the Abura Asebu Kwamankesse District Director of Education, Madam Mary Cudjoe; and the Acting Director of Education for Awutu Senya District, Mr Frank Etrue Hayford. 

Also present were the Heads of Aggrey Memorial SHS, Adisadel College, Swedru School of Business, Obrachire SHTS, and Kwanyako SHTS, as well as the Regional P.E./Sports Coordinator, Regional PRO, Zonal Sports Executives, Coordinators, and some affected students and their parents.

The Technical Advisor to the Minister for Education, Prof George K.T. Oduro, was also in attendance.

The Regional Director and her team provided detailed eyewitness accounts of the incidents, outlining what transpired, discussing the causes, immediate steps taken, and proposing measures to strengthen safety and security during future inter-school sporting events

The Director-General unequivocally condemned the acts of violence and expressed strong dissatisfaction with the level of aggression displayed by some students. He emphasised that such conduct undermines the core values of discipline, sportsmanship, and mutual respect that school competitions are intended to promote. 

He further underscored the importance of school games as platforms for discovering and nurturing talent while fostering unity among schools.

Mr Kofi Davis noted that football and traditional games have become increasingly lucrative, urging that students with passion and talent must be properly guided and supported to build successful careers through sports.

However, he endorsed the Central Regional Director's decision to suspend all sporting activities pending a thorough investigation into the reported incidents. 

Management expressed relief, based on firsthand confirmation, that no fatalities were recorded, contrary to false reports circulated in some sections of the media.

The student who was erroneously reported to have died was present at the meeting; he, along with other victims who were hospitalised, has since been discharged and is currently receiving medical care.

It was also reassuring to learn that the perpetrators of the assaults have been arrested and are assisting the police with the investigations.

In conclusion, the Director-General stated firmly that any student found to have engaged in acts of assault would face appropriate sanctions in accordance with the laws of Ghana and the regulations of the Ghana Education Service.