The Sokode Senior High Technical School at Sokode-Etoe, near Ho, has been temporarily closed to ensure the safety of students and staff following violent clashes between the youth of neighbouring Sokode-Gbogame and students of the school on Sunday, February 23, 2025.
The Volta Regional Director of Education, Francis Agbemadi, who disclosed this to The Graphic in Ho on Tuesday, January 25, said the closure was also necessary to allow for a smooth investigation into the matter.
He explained that following the incident, the Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES), engaged the police, military, and community elders in efforts to de-escalate rising tensions between the students and the youth of the town.
Conflicting accounts
Mr Agbemadi said there had been conflicting accounts of the incident.
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While community leaders claimed the students initiated an unprovoked attack on the townspeople, leading to injuries and property damage, they also alleged that the involvement of local militias had exacerbated the violence. He quoted the community leaders as calling for a thorough investigation into the matter.
On the other hand, the Regional GES Director said school authorities maintained that the riot stemmed from allegations that a food vendor had been selling meals suspected to be laced with cannabis, prompting students to leave campus at night to buy the substance.
As a result, a student was allegedly ambushed at night and assaulted by townspeople.
In retaliation, 42 students reportedly attacked members of the community, and altercations at a local drinking spot escalated into further violence between the two groups, resulting in injuries on both sides, Mr Agbemadi added.
For now, military personnel have been deployed to restore order and prevent further violence in the community.
Measures have also been put in place to facilitate the safe departure of students from the campus, Mr Agbemadi told GraphicOnline.
He said a preliminary report on the incident had suggested the formation of a team comprising police officers, community representatives, and GES officials to investigate the matter.
"The situation remains under investigation, with further updates to follow," Mr Agbemadi further stated.
