Two watchmen at Bolgatanga Girls Senior High School have been arrested and handed over to the police following an alleged sexual assault involving a student of the school, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has confirmed. The two suspects have also been interdicted with immediate effect as police investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the reported incident.
The GES, in a statement issued on August 20, 2026, said it received a “disturbing report” of an alleged sexual assault involving the student and the two watchmen. While the Service did not disclose the identity or age of the student, it said preliminary information indicated that she is a special-needs student who is on medication. The circumstances surrounding the incident have taken on particular concern because the alleged assault reportedly occurred at a time when the student had suffered a relapse of her condition and required medical attention.
The GES, however, did not provide further details about the nature of the student’s condition, the medication involved, the location of the alleged assault or precisely what transpired between the student and the two suspects. Those details are expected to form part of the ongoing investigation. Following the report, the two watchmen were arrested and handed over to the police for further investigation. The immediate interdiction of the suspects by school management means they have been removed from their duties while the matter is investigated.
The GES said investigations are currently ongoing and that management would rely on their outcome to determine the appropriate sanctions. It stressed that any disciplinary action would be taken in accordance with the GES Code of Conduct and the laws of Ghana. The Service has therefore stopped short of making a finding of guilt against the two suspects, leaving the police investigation and any subsequent legal process to establish the facts.
The incident has also prompted a renewed warning from the GES to personnel working within the education system over their responsibility towards students in their care. The Service said all staff must uphold the highest standards of professionalism and ensure the safety, dignity and wellbeing of every student. It further warned that it would not tolerate any conduct that compromises the safety or wellbeing of students. The warning is particularly significant in a boarding-school environment, where students spend extended periods under the supervision of teachers, administrators, support staff and other personnel. For students with special needs or those requiring medical support, the responsibility of school authorities to ensure appropriate supervision and protection can be even more critical.
The GES sought to reassure parents and guardians that it is treating the allegations with the seriousness they deserve. “Management assures parents, guardians and the general public that the matter is being treated with the seriousness it deserves,” the Service said. However, the statement did not indicate whether the student remains at the school, whether additional protective measures have been introduced. The identities of the two watchmen have also not been made public by the GES.
For now, the central questions surrounding the alleged incident—including what happened during the student’s reported medical relapse, how the two watchmen allegedly became involved and whether further persons may have information relevant to the case—remain subject to investigation. The police inquiry is therefore expected to determine the facts of the case, while the GES has indicated that it will take appropriate administrative and disciplinary action based on the findings. The case has placed renewed attention on the need for schools to maintain robust safeguarding systems, particularly for students who may be vulnerable and require additional care, protection and medical attention.
By: Joyce Owusu
