A student of Koforidua Senior High Technical School (SECTECH) has been stabbed during unrest at the ongoing Eastern Regional Inter-Schools Sports Festival in Koforidua, sparking fears of retaliation and serious security concerns.
The victim, Jerome Appiah, was reportedly attacked by a group of Form Two students from New Juaben Senior High School while eating waakye on his way back to campus. He suffered a deep machete wound to the shoulder and bled heavily before help arrived.
Police from the Eastern Regional Command responded quickly, rushing the injured student to the Eastern Regional Hospital, where he is receiving treatment and is reported to be in stable condition.
In response to the attack, the Headmaster of Koforidua SECTECH, Emmanuel Frimpong Benjabeng, together with some teachers, immediately went to the Koforidua Youth Resource Centre (the main venue of the festival) to prevent any retaliatory action by angry students.
At the time, Mr Benjabeng was in a meeting with the New Juaben South Municipal Education Director, Mustapha Haruna Appiah, when reports of further disturbances emerged.
According to eyewitnesses and officials, the education director later sustained a head injury after being struck by a flying stone during clashes involving students from Nsutam Senior High Technical School, who were allegedly throwing stones at the venue.
Mr Appiah expressed deep concern over the recurring violence at school sporting events and called on the police and festival organisers to:
Conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents
Strengthen security measures immediately
Take firm action to prevent further attacks
The Eastern Regional Inter-Schools Sports Festival remains ongoing, but the stabbing and subsequent clashes have heightened tensions and raised fresh questions about safety protocols at such events.
Police are investigating the matter, and no arrests have been publicly confirmed as of the latest updates.
