Accra High School, one of Ghana’s oldest senior high institutions, is now in the spotlight for deeply troubling reasons. Over recent weeks, there have been testimonies, audio recordings, and reports from students and staff describing an environment defined not by learning, but by fear, intimidation, and systemic neglect.
The accounts point to a school where physical assault is normalised, whistleblowers are punished, and allegations of sexual violence are mishandled or ignored, all in direct violation of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution and the Children’s Act, which guarantee every child dignity and protection from abuse.
A Headmistress Shielded by Power, Politics and Bureaucracy
For the past three and a half years, Accra High School has been led by Evelyn Sagbil Nabia, a headmistress whom multiple teachers and students describe as ruling through fear. According to insiders, raising legitimate concerns is often met with threats, reprisals, or intimidation.
Some staff allege that Nabia often references her political relationships, particularly a reported claim that she schooled with the Education Minister, creating the perception of protection from accountability. Schools under her previous leadership have reportedly ended in conflict, with teachers warning Accra High may be heading down the same path.
When contacted regarding the allegations, Nabia said the case was under investigation by the Ghana Education Service, and therefore she was “unable to make a statement on it.”
The Violent Punishment Culture Students Say Is Breaking Them
Despite the Ghana Education Service (GES) ban on corporal punishment, students say the practice thrives at Accra High.
We reviewed multiple audio recordings from current and former students who confirmed being slapped, verbally abused, or humiliated by staff—and in some cases, by the headmistress herself. Their voices carry the emotional weight of fear and trauma.
A female student who attempted suicide after allegedly being slapped by the headmistress said in a late-night audio message:
“I can’t breathe well. My cheek is swollen. I don’t know what I did wrong. I just want to disappear.”
Another student described a staff member known as Koomson (Asumbo) allegedly slapped him repeatedly until his nose bled.
“Sir… he hit me, and my nose started bleeding. I told him I didn’t do anything. He didn’t stop.”
Several students say they were punished for reporting abuse. One said she was forced to stand for hours after reporting being slapped.
“When I told them what happened, they said I was rude. I wish I had never reported.”
The Rape Case the School Allegedly Tried to Bury
The most disturbing audio in our possession is from a 16-year-old girl alleging rape by her teacher, Faisal Adamu Kwame.
Her shaky voice, recorded immediately after the alleged assault, breaks repeatedly as she tries to speak:
“I told him I was bleeding. I begged him. I told him, ‘Please, sir.’ He closed the window. He held my neck. I couldn’t scream.”
The student says she never received counselling, and her complaint was reportedly not documented properly. She told Online Times that the teacher continued to work on campus, and she began experiencing suicidal thoughts.
Her family reported the case to DOVVSU at the Nima Police Station, but they say follow-ups have produced no clear results.
Another Sexual Misconduct Allegation, Another Student Punished
On November 12, 2025, a fresh scandal erupted. A staff member identified as Ansa was accused of inappropriate sexual touching, including allegedly fingering students in the staff common room. After the allegation was reported to the police, the student who reported him was summoned by the school’s disciplinary committee within two days.
The accused teacher reportedly continued working.
A staff source described this pattern bluntly:
“The institution protects itself, not the victims.”
A System That Punishes Victims and Protects Power
Students, teachers, and parents describe a culture of fear where reporting abuse could mean punishment or being expelled. Parents allegedly fear being outspoken, worried their children will become targets. Some within the PTA and Old Students Association reportedly side with administrators and label complaints as indiscipline.
A former alumni PRO told the media,
“In this school, the student is always wrong.”
The Law Is Clear. The Enforcement Is Not
Article 28(1)(d) of the 1992 Constitution protects children from physical and emotional abuse. The Children’s Act prohibits cruel, degrading treatment. GES prohibits corporal punishment in schools.
Yet these alleged abuses continue. The testimonies suggest not only a failure of administration, but a failure of enforcement by authorities mandated to protect minors.
A School on the Brink
Some teachers believe Accra High is approaching a crisis. The emotional environment is described as “the silence before an explosion.” Students feel unsafe. Staff are terrified to speak. And the serious allegations keep piling up, without visible action.
Unanswered Questions Authorities Must Now Confront
- Why were rape and sexual misconduct allegations not escalated transparently and urgently?
- Why were students who reported abuse allegedly punished?
- Why do teachers accused of assault continue to work with students?
- What protections exist to prevent political influence from shielding school administrators?
- Why has no independent committee been deployed despite years of allegations?
- Final Reflection: When Children Cry for Help, Who Will Listen?
The testimonies from Accra High School reveal more than a failing institution. They expose a painful truth about child protection in Ghana: students often have no safe place to speak, no guarantee of justice, and no adult to trust.
Instead, they whisper their suffering into voice notes, hoping someone, somewhere, will finally listen.
Schools are meant to shape futures—not shatter them.
Until these voices are heard, believed, and protected, the crisis at Accra High is not just a school problem, but a national one.
Source: Online Times
