The Upper East Regional branch of Activista Ghana, a youth group affiliated to ActionAid Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), has appealed to government to consider stationing security personnel in Senior High Schools (SHSs) noted for riots.
The group said some SHSs, especially the Zuarungu SHS, Gowrie Senior High Technical, and the Sirigu Integrated SHSs were recently in the news for the wrong reasons, as students engaged in riots, which led to the destruction of school properties.
The group, with branches across Ghana and members between 16 and 35 years, made the appeal in a petition presented to the office of the Regional Minister after members clad in Activista branded T-shirts went on float on major streets in the Bolgatanga township.
They held placards with inscriptions; “Stop Violence in our Schools”, “Say No to Violence”, “We are One People, One Nation”, “No Peace, No Development, So Let’s Embrace Peace” among others as part of activities to commemorate the International Youth Day.
Mr Rexford Akurigu, the Regional Organizer of Activista, who presented the petition, noted that the disturbances in schools in the region did not only disrupt academic activities or destruction of properties, but increased poverty levels as the quality of education was eventually compromised.
He therefore called on management of the Ghana Education Service to make schools accessible to Activista, ActionAid Ghana and other groups to regularly engage students on the need to maintain discipline and avoid unrest.
He urged managements of schools to be responsive to the needs and welfare of students in order to prevent riot, adding that “we equally call on the students to use non-violent approaches to address their grievances.”
Mr Akurigu said the increased violence and insecurity in the Upper East and North East regions, due to the Bawku conflict was a matter of concern to the group.
“The movement notes with a deep sense of worry that the conflict has spread to various parts of the country and virtually leaves all of us at risk of falling victim to violent conduct.
“While we acknowledge and commend the government and the Asantehene for the efforts to restore lasting peace to Bawku, we recognize that the recent escalation of violence has the potential of jeopardizing the progress made so far in restoring peace,” he said.
Mr Akurigu said the conflict led to loss of lives, displacement of vulnerable people, especially women and children, with access to education and health virtually at an all-time low.
“Sadly, Senior High School students have equally died. This is clearly unacceptable and needs urgent attention,” the Regional Organizer emphasized.
He appealed to the government to address the infrastructure deficit in schools, which occasionally contributed to some of the disturbances in the SHSs.
“We must take urgent steps to address these issues if we are serious and committed to bridging the development gaps,” Mr Akurigu said.
Mr Braimah Murtala, a Director at the Regional Coordinating Council, who received the petition on behalf of Mr Donatus Akamugri Atanga, the Regional Minister, assured the group that the petition would receive the needed attention.
He said the Minister, who chairs the Regional Security Council, was working tirelessly to ensure permanent peace in the area, saying, “It is because of peace in the region that Minister has not sat in the region for more than two weeks without traveling to Accra.”