Five Students Injured as Violence Erupts During Peace Ceremony Between Bawku Schools

Violence broke out during a peace ceremony between Bawku Senior High School and Bawku Technical Institute students on Tuesday, February 25. At least five students were seriously injured, while numerous others were only slightly hurt.

In an effort to put a stop to the frequent conflicts between the two schools, school officials worked with the Kpalwega traditional rulers to organize the ceremony, which was held at Bawku Technical Institute.

The traditional chiefs suggested burying the okra stick as a symbolic act to promote peace as part of the healing process. Tensions erupted during the celebration, though, and students from the two schools started throwing stones at one another, which interrupted the activities and resulted in several injuries. The injured pupils were taken to Quality and Vineyard hospitals in Bawku for treatment, and the Bawku Divisional Police Command moved quickly to restore calm.

The senior prefects from both schools participated in the ceremony, which was successfully completed by school officials and the Ghana Education Service (GES) in spite of the disturbance.