Eastern Regional Police Commander DCOP Joseph Owusu-Bempah has issued a stern warning to students of Okuapeman Senior High School and Mount Sinai Senior High School following violent clashes that left students injured and school property damaged.
Addressing students amid the unrest, the police commander warned that students who attack police officers with stones should expect officers to defend themselves.
His remarks came after violent confrontations between students of the two schools in the Akuapem North Municipality of the Eastern Region on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
Police Commander Warns Against Attacking Officers
DCOP Owusu-Bempah specifically warned students against pelting police officers with stones, describing such conduct as a criminal offence.
According to reports of his address, the commander warned that if students attacked officers again, police would respond with force to protect themselves.
The warning has attracted significant public attention because it came at a time when authorities were working to restore calm at the two schools following serious violence.
Violence Leaves Students Injured, Schools Damaged
The clashes reportedly occurred in the early hours of Wednesday and resulted in significant damage to facilities at both Okuapeman SHS and Mount Sinai SHS.
Citi Newsroom reported that six Okuapeman students were hospitalised, with four later discharged while two remained under medical care. Several facilities, including classrooms and a Visual Arts studio, were also reportedly burnt at Okuapeman, while facilities at Mount Sinai were damaged. GhanaMedia.net has previously reported on another serious student clash involving rival senior high schools.
The Eastern Regional Security Council subsequently ordered the closure of both schools as authorities assessed the extent of the destruction and investigated the circumstances surrounding the violence.
More Than 10 Students Arrested
Police have confirmed that more than 10 students have been arrested in connection with the clashes.
DCOP Owusu-Bempah said police were compiling information on individuals suspected to have participated in the violence and warned that students who fled the scene would still be traced.
Police are also investigating allegations that some teachers may have encouraged students to attack their counterparts. Authorities have stressed that anyone found to have participated in criminal conduct will face the law.
Police Say Ringleaders Will Be Identified
The commander also rejected the idea that students could hide behind the size of their school populations to escape accountability.
He said police could not arrest an entire school but would identify those who organised or led violent acts.
“We cannot arrest the entire school, but we know the ringleaders,” the commander said, according to MyJoyOnline’s report of his warning.
Students were urged to report planned acts of violence to school authorities instead of joining confrontations.
School Rivalry Under Scrutiny
The latest violence has renewed concerns about student rivalry and the escalation of disagreements between senior high schools into destructive confrontations.
GhanaMedia.net previously reported on Ghana Education Service sanctions against three Eastern Region schools over hooliganism, highlighting growing concerns about discipline and safety during student activities.
Authorities have urged students to channel school rivalry into academic, sporting and other constructive achievements rather than violence.
The Ghana Education Service has also previously identified Okuapeman Senior High School as an institution within the Akuapem North area of the Eastern Region. More education and school-related developments are available in GhanaMedia.net’s Education section.
Investigations Continue
The precise trigger for the latest confrontation remains under investigation. Police and education authorities are expected to continue identifying those responsible for the violence and assessing the damage caused at both institutions.
GhanaMedia.net understands that the police warning was made in the context of restoring order and preventing further attacks on officers, students, teachers and public property.
Sources: MyJoyOnline; Citi Newsroom; Graphic Online.
