The Ghana Education Service (GES) in the Eastern Region has imposed a sweeping two-year suspension on Koforidua Senior High Technical School, New Juaben Senior High School, and New Nsutam Senior High Technical School, barring them from all sporting and co-curricular engagements.

Under the sanctions, the affected schools are prohibited from organising, participating in, or attending activities such as sports competitions, quizzes, debates, cadet programmes, and entertainment events.

In addition, each institution has been fined GH¢500 and will be held financially responsible for any costs arising from injuries or damage to property linked to the incidents.

The punitive measures were announced in a press release issued by the Eastern Regional Director of Education, Ivy Asantewa Owusu, following disturbing reports of gang rape and a stabbing incident that occurred during a recent inter-school sports competition held in Koforidua.

According to the statement, the decision is grounded in Section 2.17 of the GES Code of Conduct, which addresses physical and psychological violence, as well as the Eastern Region Schools and Colleges Sports Association’s Code of Discipline.

The cited provisions include Article VII on disturbances and hooliganism and Article VIII, which outlines applicable sanctions.

“The schools were found to have students involved in acts of hooliganism, which are in clear violation of GES disciplinary standards,” the statement explained.

Investigations into the incidents have so far led to the arrest of two underage students in connection with the alleged gang rape of a student during the sporting event.

The suspects are currently facing prosecution, while a third suspect, believed to be a former student, is still on the run.

Police have charged the arrested suspects with conspiracy to commit a crime, namely rape, as well as the substantive offence of rape. In a separate but related incident, another student has been arrested for allegedly stabbing a colleague near the sports stadium.

GES says the sanctions are intended to serve as a strong deterrent and to reinforce discipline, safety, and responsible conduct at school-organised events across the region.