CETAG Vice-President Daniel Ofori: School Hooliganism Reflects Systemic Failure, Urgent Action Needed
CETAG Vice-President links rising school violence to indiscipline and weak systemic controls.
- Daniel Ofori calls school violence a systemic failure requiring urgent reforms.
- Recent Central Region clashes at inter-school athletics spark concern.
- Urges stronger discipline, guidance systems and stakeholder collaboration.
The Vice-President of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG), Daniel Ofori, has described the growing incidents of hooliganism in schools as evidence of a deeper systemic failure that requires swift and practical intervention.
According to him, the persistent outbreaks of violence, indiscipline and lawlessness in some second-cycle institutions point to gaps in supervision, moral training and enforcement of school regulations. He warned that unless decisive steps are taken, the situation could further erode discipline and academic standards.
Mr. Ofori made the remarks in an interview with Kwame Tanko on Ghana Se Sen on Lawson TV/Radio, where he attributed the trend largely to increasing indiscipline among students. He stressed that the problem “will continue to haunt us” if stakeholders fail to act collectively and urgently.
His comments come on the back of recent violent incidents in the Central Region, particularly during an inter-schools athletics competition in Agona Swedru. The event was disrupted after clashes between students of Obrachire Senior High Technical School and Swedru School of Business (SWESBUS) escalated into a physical assault.
A student from Obrachire sustained serious injuries, including a broken tooth, after being pelted with stones. The incident, captured in a viral video, sparked public outrage and led to arrests as well as the suspension of zonal inter-school sporting activities in the region.
Mr. Ofori noted that such developments highlight the urgent need for stronger guidance and counselling systems, stricter enforcement of discipline, enhanced security at school events, and closer collaboration between school authorities, parents and community leaders.
He emphasised that addressing hooliganism must go beyond punitive measures, calling for proactive reforms that instil values of respect, responsibility and peaceful coexistence among students. “All hands must be on deck,” he said, urging education authorities to adopt pragmatic measures to restore order and safeguard the integrity of Ghana’s educational institutions.
