GES report links Obuasi school unrest to staff factions and gangs

Teacher factions and student gangs are undermining discipline and school management at Obuasi Senior High Technical School, according to a Ghana Education Service (GES) committee that investigated its August disturbances.

The committee recommended dissolving informal student groups and withdrawing recognition from unauthorised staff associations, alongside changes to security and internal management.

The inquiry examined disturbances on August 4 2026, during which the headmaster was assaulted and school and personal property were damaged.

The unrest followed the discovery of what appeared to be the remains of a baby buried on the school compound.

The committee concluded that the school’s problems could not be attributed to one incident or individual. It identified weak security, staff factionalism, resistance to administrative reforms, poor controls on student movement and a breakdown of trust within the school community.

Its findings concern the August unrest. They are separate from a fresh GES investigation commissioned following a recent JoyNews investigation into another allegation of sexual abuse against the headmaster.

The report identified teacher groupings known as “Parliament”, “Caucus” and “Man never is”, saying divisions among staff had damaged professional relationships.

“The Committee found that these divisions have adversely affected staff cohesion and the administration of the school,” it stated.

According to the report, some members of the Caucus group who had worked at the school for several years had consistently opposed aspects of the headmaster’s administration.

The committee also identified student groups called “4KT”, “Stitches” and “More than Family”, warning about their potential influence on behaviour and safety.

“The Committee found that these groupings have the potential to promote indiscipline, intimidation and violent behaviour among students,” the report said.

It recommended dissolving informal student groups, naming “Old Blog” alongside the other three, and urged management to prevent similar groups from forming where they could undermine school authority and peaceful coexistence.

For staff, the committee recommended that unauthorised associations be derecognised and managed to prevent them from becoming parallel centres of authority or influence.

It also proposed a larger staff common room to encourage professional interaction and help rebuild working relationships.

School committees, boards, task teams and internal appointments should be reviewed and reconstituted where necessary, the report said, to restore confidence and ensure balanced representation.

The nine-member committee was inaugurated on August 11 to investigate the demonstration, the headmaster’s conduct and related matters.

Related articles:

NDC clears Obuasi headmaster to contest party election amid sexual abuse probe

NAGRAT alleges 38 Obuasi teachers told to leave after speaking out against headmaster