A crackdown on examination malpractice in Bawku Senior High School (SHS) in the Upper West region has resulted in students going on a rampage.
Some students of the school have destroyed both school and private properties, assaulting some teachers in the process, during the Monday, June 15, 2026, dawn incident.
Security has currently been beefed up on the school’s premises as investigations continue to identify and arrest culprits in the disturbance.
The incident, which occurred around 1 a.m. yesterday, was reportedly triggered by the strict enforcement of examination rules and regulations by school authorities and invigilators during the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The students allegedly vandalised school facilities, destroyed personal belongings of staff, burnt motorbikes, damaged electricity meters and parts of the school’s common market, and attacked teachers for refusing to allow cheating during the exam.
Meanwhile, education authorities have ruled out closing down the school, insisting that teaching, learning and the examination would continue with enhanced security arrangements.
The Bawku Municipal Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Isaac Agbeko Azasoo, told the Daily Graphic that some final-year students who were expected to complete their examination this week took the law into their own hands after management and teachers refused to condone examination malpractice.
He said the disturbances resulted in the assault of two teachers, with one severely injured and referred to the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga for further treatment.
“Some of the students were not happy with the strict enforcement of examination regulations.
They thought they were close to completing school and decided to vent their anger on some teachers,” Mr Azasoo explained.
He added that security personnel were swiftly deployed to the school to restore calm and prevent any further escalation.
Mr Azasoo described the scale of destruction as extensive, affecting government property and the personal belongings of staff members.
He said several motorbikes belonging to teachers were destroyed, while personal items, including laptops, television sets and other valuables, were either vandalised or taken away.
Mr Azasoo said staff residences on the school premises were targeted, with electricity meters and water supply facilities damaged.
“Properties belonging to both staff and the government have been destroyed.
They caused extensive damage to electrical installations, especially electricity meters serving staff bungalows.
The water supply systems to some residences were also affected,” he stated.
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