The Central Regional Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has ordered the immediate suspension of all zonal inter-school sporting activities among Senior High Schools (SHSs) and Senior High Technical Schools (SHTSs) in the region. The directive follows a series of violent incidents that disrupted recent athletics competitions, prompting concerns about student safety and discipline.
The suspension, announced in a statement on Sunday, 22 February 2026, is intended to safeguard lives, maintain order and uphold the integrity of school sports. According to the regional GES, management received credible reports that clashes among students at zonal athletics competitions had escalated beyond healthy rivalry, undermining the very purpose of inter-school sports.
Eyewitness accounts and video footage circulating on social media show a disturbing scene at Agona Swedru during the District Schools Athletics Games, where students of Obrachire Senior High Technical School were attacked by their peers from the Swedru School of Business (SWESBUS).
The confrontation, which occurred on 19 February 2026, reportedly started as competitive tension during events but quickly deteriorated into physical violence and disorder. The GES emphasised that sporting activities are meant to promote discipline, teamwork, mutual respect and healthy rivalry. It described the incidents as regrettable, noting that they not only disrupted competition but also posed serious threats to the safety of students, staff, and spectators alike.
In its communication to heads of schools, the Directorate instructed that all scheduled zonal athletics competitions be halted immediately and that the directive be strictly enforced across all institutions. The move is described as temporary, allowing the Service to review the situation thoroughly, consult relevant stakeholders, and develop effective strategies to prevent future occurrences.
The GES reaffirmed its commitment to restoring sporting activities only under conditions that ensure safety, discipline, and the true spirit of healthy competition.