Authorities at Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School (OKESS) in Kumasi have arrested a male boarding student after he was found in possession of a locally manufactured pistol on school premises. The arrest, which occurred on Sunday, May 12, has raised renewed concerns about student safety and the increasing trend of firearm possession in schools.
According to school sources, the student returned to campus around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday and was subjected to a routine security check at the school’s main entrance. During the search, security personnel discovered the concealed weapon in his belongings. The student, however, fled the scene before he could be immediately apprehended.
The Headmaster of the school, Michael Mensah, affectionately known as “Sir Micky,” personally tracked down the student early Sunday morning. He then escorted the student, along with the seized weapon, to the Asokore Mampong Police Station, where the student was placed into police custody.
The Ghana Police Service has since launched an investigation into the matter.
This incident follows closely on the heels of a similar case at Adventist Senior High School in Bantama, Kumasi, where a female student was accidentally shot in the eye by a male classmate using a similar locally manufactured pistol. That event sparked national outrage and urgent calls for tighter campus security.
In response to these alarming developments, school authorities across the Ashanti Region are ramping up security measures. Teachers are urged to maintain vigilance, thoroughly inspect students upon returninghome, and swiftly report any suspicious behaviour.
While OKESS management declined to provide full details, they confirmed the arrest and stated that the student’s family has been informed. The Ghana Education Service (GES) has not issued an official statement.
These recurring incidents underscore the urgent need for collaborative efforts between school authorities, law enforcement, parents, and policymakers to prevent the infiltration of weapons into educational institutions.
Source: www.starrfm.com.gh / Isaac Justice Bediako
