Nkwanta Senior High School in the Oti Region has been ordered to shut down indefinitely following escalating tribal tensions that have claimed the life of one student and injured two others in less than 48 hours.
The closure, announced on Friday, June 27, 2025, comes after a series of emergency consultations between the Ghana Education Service (GES), regional security officials, and local education authorities. It underscores the growing concerns over student safety in conflict-prone areas.
The tragedy began on Thursday when two female day students were hit by stray bullets on their way to school amid renewed clashes in the township. The situation deteriorated further on Friday during mock examinations when a male student was struck and killed by a stray bullet while seated in his classroom.
A memo issued by the Acting Oti Regional Director of Education stressed the urgent need for the school’s closure, citing “an immediate threat to the safety and well-being of students and staff.” The memo also confirmed that security arrangements, including police escorts, are being made to ensure the safe evacuation of all students to their respective homes.
“This is a deeply troubling moment for education in the region. The life of a young student has been cut short, and two others wounded while pursuing their right to education,” the Director noted, appealing for coordinated efforts to restore calm.
The directive to suspend academic activity reflects broader national concerns about the vulnerability of schools in volatile regions, and it has prompted fresh calls for enhanced protection of educational institutions during conflicts.
The GES has requested additional support and guidance from its headquarters in Accra as it works to manage the crisis and determine the next steps for both students and staff.
Meanwhile, education stakeholders and civil society organisations are urging government to take swift action to mediate the underlying ethnic tensions that have repeatedly disrupted life in Nkwanta.
