According to the Deputy Director-General of NACOC, Alexander Twum-Barimah, a form one student in a senior high school in the Eastern Region was caught with one of the tea bag samples hidden in his school bag.

“I went to Asamankese in the Eastern Region and during my conversation with the District Chief Executive, he mentioned that a form one student was coming to school and among his belongings, a wee tea bag was found,” Mr. Twum-Barimah said in a television interview with Woezor TV, broadcast on Sunday, September 28.

He explained that the problem has moved beyond senior high schools, with marijuana use now spreading to basic schools.

Mr. Twum-Barimah expressed concern about the age profile of drug users, citing the case of a 16-year-old boy who was caught carrying two sticks of marijuana.

“There was a person that we contacted at that time, and we found a 16-year-old boy. He carried two sticks of marijuana. Sixteen? Two sticks. Why should that happen?” he questioned.

According to him, the challenge has become so widespread that district assemblies are requesting the establishment of NACOC offices in their areas.

He said NACOC had already set up offices in the Asamankese District, Adansi Municipality, and Ashanti Akim District to strengthen local response.

Mr. Twum-Barimah also revealed that NACOC had closed down six drug stores and two pharmacies for selling unapproved high-dose tramadol.

“As I sit here, we have closed not less than six drugstores and two pharmacies. We will continue to close more,” he said.

He clarified that tramadol is not banned in Ghana, but the dosage is regulated by law.

“Tramadol usage is not illegal. But by law, you can use 50 mg or 100 mg maximum, and that should be on a prescription from a physician. Dosages above 100 mg are not permitted,” he explained.

Mr. Twum-Barimah recalled witnessing the dangers of drug-impaired behaviour on the road, narrating how a motor rider, suspected to be under the influence, crashed into his car while speeding.

He said NACOC, under the leadership of Brigadier General Mantey, is determined to reduce drug abuse among the youth.

“We have a leadership that is determined to do what is right, and even if we cannot eradicate drug use completely, we will bring it to the barest minimum,” he stated.

Source: Graphic.com.gh 

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These demands were voiced during World Menstrual Hygiene Day celebrations, highlighting the urgent need for improved menstrual hygiene facilities and affordability in schools.

The students emphasized that the lack of changing rooms in senior high and junior high schools forces them to navigate uncomfortable and unsanitary conditions when they need to change during heavy menstrual bleeding.

Many students are compelled to seek out dormitory captains or find other makeshift solutions, disrupting their education and daily activities.

Statistics show that nine out of ten Ghanaian girls miss school during their menstruation. In northern Ghana, up to 45% of girls resort to using rags to manage menstrual blood due to the high cost of disposable sanitary pads.

This practice not only affects their health and hygiene but also contributes to a significant number of school absences among girls.

The call for changing rooms and tax-free sanitary pads was made during a float following a two-day training workshop on using reusable pads.

The workshop was organized by ActionAid Ghana in Bolgatanga and aimed to educate and empower girls on sustainable menstrual hygiene practices.

Programme Coordinator for ActionAid Ghana, Yakubu Akuka, supported the students’ demands, highlighting the importance of creating a conducive learning environment for girls.

He emphasized that thousands of girls from poor communities miss school during their menstruation due to a lack of access to affordable sanitary pads.

The students were at the stadium to support their schools as they qualified for the annual Super Zonal Athletics Competition.

In the lunch hours of Thursday, the scorching sun produced rising temperatures and unbearable heat to the discomfort of the students.

LuvSports gathered that some of the students complained about the intensity of the heat to the security officials, who prompted the attention of the Fire Service to come to the aid of the students.

The fire tenders sprayed water into the stands to help manage the rising temperatures and to hydrate the students who felt uncomfortable with the weather inside the stadium.

Sources within the service disclosed the temperature rose above 34 degrees and the intervention helped the students to withstand the situation.

Despite gaining admission to secondary schools, over 137,000 students in the Western North Region are yet to report to school.

This alarming statistic was shared by the CHASS, who noted that the situation is cause for concern.

According to CHASS, one of the main reasons why many students are yet to report to school is due to financial difficulties faced by their parents, many of whom are cocoa farmers.

President of CHASS in the Western North Region, Nana Amo Amankwah expressed concern about the large number of students who are yet to report to school.

“As we speak, in a number of the schools, those who have reported are just a little above half of the number placed, and that is our concern.

“The Western Regional Director of Education gave an update that about 137,000 students have not taken up their admissions yet. According to them, they are facing financial challenges.”

Nana Amo Amankwah acknowledged that some students may face challenges in meeting the requirements listed in the prospectus.

However, he urged the students to report to school regardless of this challenge.

“A good number of the schools have mattresses, so we just want them to come. They should not think about the items on the prospectus as long as they can get a towel and sponge; they should come. They don’t have to get everything on the prospectus before they come.”

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This initiative by GES aims to foster discipline and create a conducive environment for effective teaching and learning, as outlined in its recently released code of conduct.

Misconducts such as sexual offenses, physical and psychological abuse, acts causing harm, involvement in cultism, gang affiliations, and the possession and use of weapons are grounds for expulsion for SHS students.

The sanctions detailed within the document are not mere slaps on the wrist. 

Depending on the severity of the wrongdoing, students could face consequences ranging from counseling sessions to the extreme end of the spectrum, which is dismissal.

The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Council of Parent-Teacher Associations have welcomed the document. 

However, they believe that the GES should provide clarity on some of the codes that appear ambiguous.

Speaking to JoyNews, the Vice President of NAGRAT, Joseph Anaaba expressed satisfaction with the imposed sanctions but called for clearer descriptions in certain areas. 

He emphasised the need to specify offenses such as absenteeism, skin bleaching and low haircuts, stating that defining the corresponding punishment would prevent discretionary decisions.

“So if we talk about haircuts, yes, they said very low. There may be discrepancies in the description of the low, so there is a need for the Ghana Education Service to come clean as to the level of the lowness that they have mentioned. 

“Where we have issues is some of the offenses where they have not been specific. For example, a student who does not come to school or does not attend gatherings, they have not specified the number of times or periods that if a student did not attend, punishment should be meted out to the student,” he said.

On her side, the National Public Relations Officer for the Council of Parent-Teacher Association, Felicity Ahafianyo commended GES for addressing student misbehaviour. 

However, she urged further clarification, particularly regarding the evaluation of skin bleaching, expressing concerns about the potential challenges in determining the degree of skin bleaching.

“We know most of our pomades that we have nowadays have some sort of bleaching ingredients in there so I don’t know the degree at which they are going to determine that this skin is being bleached,” she said.

During proceedings on Friday, the suspects’ lawyer, Joseph Evans Abeka pleaded with the Court to grant them bail since they were students and school had reopened.

However, the Prosecutor Inspector, Jennifer Acheampong contended that the security of other students is at stake.

She also argued that the investigation is still ongoing, thus, the suspects should be remanded.

The three were slapped with several criminal charges on Thursday, December 30, 2021.

The first accused person, Adolf Eshun is facing only one count of abetment of crime namely robbery.

The two others, Patrick Baidoo, and Joseph Lord Nii Adjei Oninku are being pressed with four charges.

They include conspiracy to commit a crime – attempted robbery, and attempt to commit a crime.

The others are causing unlawful damage and murder all contrary to the Criminal Offenses Act, 1960 (Act 29).

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Prosecutor Acheampong who read the facts of the case during the first hearing said suspect Adolf Eshun, aged 18 years on December 22, ordered Bolt for suspects Patrick Baidoo, 19 years and Joseph Lord Ni Adjei Oninku, 17 years because they were stranded.

It later emerged that the two burnt the deceased, AB1 Okyere Boateng who is also a Naval Officer after he resisted an attempt to take his vehicle away.

They later poured petrol on the rider and set him ablaze.

The driver sustained burns from his face and several parts of his body. He later died at the 37 Military Hospital

The suspects after their arrest confessed to committing the crime.

The news has brought sadness and fear amongst bolt drivers in the area.

Meanwhile, the Court, presided over by Catherine Obiri Addo adjourned the case to Friday, February 4, 2022.

The trio – Patrick Baidoo, aged 19, another, a minor and Adolf Eshun, 18 – were slapped with several criminal charges and made their first appearance in court on Thursday.

The first accused person, Adolf Eshun, is facing only one count of abetment of crime, namely robbery.

However, the other two, Patrick Baidoo and Joseph Lord Nii  Adjei Oninku, are being pressed with four charges.

They include conspiracy to commit crime – attempted robbery, causing unlawful damage and murder, and attempt to commit crime – robbery.

The two other counts are causing unlawful damage and murder, all contrary to the Criminal Offenses Act, 1960 (Act 29).

Prosector, Inspector Jennifer Acheampong reading the case facts before the court said suspect Adolf Eshun on December 22, ordered Bolt for suspects Patrick Baidoo and Joseph Lord Ni Adjei Oninku because they were stranded.

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It later emerged that the two burnt the deceased, AB1 Okyere Boateng, who is also a Naval Officer, after he resisted an attempt to take his vehicle away.

They later poured petrol on the rider and set him ablaze.

The deceased sustained burns from his face and several parts of his body. He later died at the 37 Military Hospital.

The suspects, after their arrest, confessed to committing the crime.

After listening to both sides, Catherine Obiri Addo, who was presiding over the case, remanded the suspects.

The case was also adjourned to Friday, January 14, 2022.

The suspects have been identified as Patrick Baidoo, aged 18, and two students, all 17.

However, the police won’t make public the names of their schools due to security reasons.

Police sources indicate the trio confessed to committing the crime.

The Regional Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olivia Adiku, has announced the suspects will be arraigned and charged accordingly.

“At about 5:00 pm on December 24, our team from the Regional Intelligence and Operation Unit, based on some intelligence, conducted an operation and arrested three suspects. All these three are [SHS] students.

“They were arrested in connection with the Bolt driver who was severely burnt on December 22, 2021,” she announced.

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DSP Adiku further revealed that the suspects will be charged with robbery and murder following the death of the driver who was also a naval officer.

“Unfortunately, the Bolt driver has passed on. The suspects confessed that they wanted to steal the car from him. When they got to Baka-Ano, and they asked him to hand over the keys, he refused, hence they poured the petrol on him and burnt him. The three are currently in our custody and would be put before court on the charges of robbery and murder,” she detailed.

The victim, AB1 Boateng Okyere, who was at the Effa Nkwanta Hospital, died after being transferred to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra.

The victims have been identified as final year students of the St Stephen’s Senior High Technical School and a continuing student of Begoro Presbyterian Senior High School.

Information gathered indicated that the incident happened on Thursday, August 5 in the Asiakwa portion of the Atewa Forest Reserve.

Their deaths were unnoticed despite not returning home that fateful day, but they were declared missing the next day.

The police together with the townfolk trekked to the mountainous part of the Atewa Forest Reserve where they were discovered to have been trapped dead.

The search team noticed that a tree, which had been dug around, toppled and caved the pit in on the victims, killing them instantly.

Assembly Member for Asiakwa area, Amofa Kwasi, confirmed that the bodies have been retrieved and deposited at Kibi Government Hospital morgue.

The break, according to the outfit will commence from Tuesday, July 20 to Sunday, July 25, 2021, with academic work to resume on Monday, July 26.

However, GES in a post on its Facebook page said provisions will be made for students who do not wish to go home.

“Students who do not wish to go home or find it difficult to go home should be allowed to remain in the school and heads are to ensure that they are fed and follow all school rules,” the post read.

The break comes ahead of the students’ final exams.

GES, in April 2021, rescheduled the reopening of school for SHS final-year students from April 6, to May 5, 2021.

This they explained was to give them an uninterrupted instructional period till they write their examination in September/October.

Read the post below:

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Students in the country went on a break for the Easter festivities on Thursday, April 1, and were expected to return on Tuesday, April 6, 2021.

However, the GES, on the morning of April 6, announced May 5 as the new reopening date for Senior High School 3 students.

This communication came late as some students and their parents had already reported in the schools.

The GES had earlier explained the development came on the back of a proposal by the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools.

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Detailing more reasons for the change of date, the GES said the new date was to provide the final year students with an uninterrupted learning period till they sit for the exit exam.

“Ordinarily, the form 3 students were to have reported on April 6 and be in school until 28th of May and go for another vacation on June 29, 2021.

“The current arrangement means that when the final year students report on May 5, they will be in school until they write their West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination,” a statement, signed by the Public Relations Officer, Cassandra Ampofo Twum, explained.

Read the full statement below:

All schools in the country went on a break for the Easter festivities on Thursday, April 1 and were expected to return today, Tuesday, April 6, 2021.

However, the development, according to the outfit, comes on the back of a proposal by the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools.

The GES explained the changes apply to schools both on the single and double track system.

The outfit disclosed this in a Facebook post, stating that further details would be announced.

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It said all other arrangements on the academic calendar remain unchanged.

Read the post below:

According to Mr Agyemang who made the allegations without providing any evidential basis, the students had been conscientised by the NDC to rain insults on the president.

Some final year SHS students currently undertaking the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) have, for some days now, been in the news for the wrong reasons.

The students have been captured in several video recordings ransacking school properties for reasons reported to be their inability to answer questions in the Integrated Science paper.

Reports suggest the students’ inability to answer the questions was due to changes made at the eleventh hour coupled with strict invigilation by teachers during the course of writing the paper.

Some of the students in the video recording which were released via social media were captured raining insults of President Akufo-Addo, blaming him for their predicament.

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Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM’s ‘Eko Sii Sen‘ show on Thursday, the NPP Chairman accused the NDC of ‘using’ the SHS students against President Akufo-Addo.

“No parent whose child has gone to school for free for three years would tell the child to insult President Akufo-Addo, the NDC are the ones who have told the students to insult Akufo-Addo,” he noted.

“The students are saying that Akufo-Addo has changed the papers, but how is that possible,” he quizzed.

“How can Akufo-Addo change the papers, or do you think the NPP would not be happy to have a situation where about 99 per cent of the students pass the exams so that we [NPP] can say that 99 percent of the ‘Akufo-Addo graduates’ have passed the WASSCE,” he quizzed further.

Reports indicate the clash ensued after two house masters allegedly beat a student who used a mobile phone contrary to school rules.

Students, who were witnesses to the ordeal their fellow student went through, started a melee to register their displeasure.

 The atmosphere was so charged that even the presence of the Breman Asikuma Police could not calm down the situation.

The police are reported to have fired several rounds of gunshots in the air to calm down the situation with a stray bullet hitting a student in the leg.

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 “It was after preps when the incident happened and some housemasters, Mr Selassie,  Kuma and Carlos who were on campus at the time beat up the student to a pulp,” a witness alleged.

However, the Asikuma Odoben Brakwa District Director of Education, Robert Kwamena Asomani, reacting to the situation, said the students were spewing falsehood.

He explained the chaos started when the teachers decided to conduct a roll call after they realised some students had moved to town.

The injured students, whose identities are unknown, are currently on admission at Our Lady of Grace Hospital at Breman Asikuma.

According to GES, the date is to enable the final year students have ample time to prepare for the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination.

In a statement signed by the Head of Public Relations, Cassandra Twum, the GES also announced Form 1 and 2 students of the Green track as well as Form 1 Gold track students will also reopen on the same date to complete their 1^st semester.

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The students are expected to return over the weekend to ensure that full academic work resumes on Monday, January 6, 2020.

However, Form 2 Gold track will resume on March 1^, 2020 and expected to have a full session to continue and finish part of their 1^st semester and also continue through to the 2^nd semester for the 2019/2020.

See full statement below;