A communicator of the New Patriotic Party, Derrick Agyekum, has called for the deployment of police and military personnel to provide security at senior high school events, arguing that student cadet groups and private security officers are not enough to deter violence.
According to him, the government must strengthen security arrangements at such events to prevent recurring clashes and assaults during inter-school activities.
Speaking on Joy Prime on February 23, Derrick Agyekum said the state should increase subsidies to schools to enable them procure adequate security services.
“Government should increase the subsidies that they support these schools with so that they can procure the needed security.”
He stressed that relying on police and military presence, though more costly, would send a stronger deterrent signal.
“It will cost a lot more to procure the service of police than private security and these cadet guys. It will equally cost you a lot more procuring the services of military.”
He however argued that students do not perceive cadet groups or private guards as authority figures capable of enforcing discipline.
“The cadet guys are in school with them. These private security they don’t see them as police or military. There’s no fear,” he noted.
He added, “When we have the needed security I believe that just at the sight of them, some of these issues may be mitigated.”
His comments follow a viral video circulating recently, showing a violent assault on a student from Awutu Obrachire Senior High Technical School during a district athletics competition held in Agona Swedru in the Central Region.
Reports indicate that a group of students from Swedru School of Business (SWESBUS) allegedly attacked the Obrachire student with punches, sticks and stones during a clash between the two schools.
The victim was rushed to a health facility and is reportedly in critical condition.
A teacher from Awutu Obrachire Senior High Technical School confirmed that the matter has been reported to the Ghana Police Service, which has commenced investigations.
The incident adds to recent cases of student-related violence, including the stabbing of a student from Koforidua Senior High Technical School during the Eastern Regional Inter-Schools Sports Festival earlier in February and the remanding of five students in January for allegedly assaulting a teacher at Kade Senior High Technical School.
