DCOP Owusu-Bempah, the Eastern Regional Police Commander, has cautioned students of Okuapeman Senior High School and Mount Sinai Senior High School to desist from pelting stones at police officers.
The Police Commander warned that pelting stones or attacking police officers constitutes a criminal offence, warning that officers will use all lawful means available to defend themselves.
Speaking to the students on September 2, 2026, DCOP Owusu-Bempah stated, “And if they give the order for you to vacate the school and you decide not to vacate, or you vacate and decide to link up with some miscreants in town, those hoodlums who have been urging you to misbehave, we will look for you and treat you like a common criminal.
“And those of you who have been throwing and pelting policemen with stones, an attack on a policeman is a criminal offence. I heard that oftentimes when they come, you pelt them with stones.
“When I heard that, I was very upset. And you let them go free. If you pelt a policeman with stones, they will also find a way to defend themselves in whatever manner.”
The police officer further cautioned, “So, don’t say that because you are a student, you can just throw stones and hurl them at somebody’s father or mother. They will fire at you and break as many legs as they could, and nothing will happen to anyone.
“So, if you are here and you think that you are stubborn, that you are the one who can throw stones at the headmaster, pelt the teacher with stones, or set fire to government property, remember that some other people passed through this school.
“They didn’t ban the school; otherwise, you wouldn’t be here. It is your turn to also come and acquire knowledge and go and assist society. Then you have decided that you want to fight.”
The development follows the Eastern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) closing down the Okuapeman Senior High School and the Mount Sinai Senior High School in the Akuapem North Municipality.
The development follows a violent clash between students of Okuapeman Senior High School and Mount Sinai Senior High School in the Eastern Region has resulted in significant destruction of school property on both sides.
It has been alleged that the clash stemmed from a misunderstanding over tablets distributed to students by the Ghana Education Service (GES).
However, it is unclear what triggered the attacks, but the incident occurred at about 2 am on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
Six students of Okuapeman SHS (OKUASS) were hospitalised after sustaining injuries.
According to the Okuapeman SHS headmaster, 4 of the students who were rushed to the hospital after the incident have been treated and discharged, with the remaining two still on admission.
The information gathered disclosed that the Visual Arts studio, the teachers office and 7 other classrooms at the Okuapeman SHS have all been burnt and also exams papers and certificates.
In Mount Sinai Senior High School, the storeroom and boys’ washroom have been burnt.
According to reports, REGSEC, after inspecting the extent of damages at both schools, subsequently directed the closure of both schools.
Students of Mount Sinai have been ordered to leave campus before 1 pm on Wednesday, September 2, while students of Okuapeman SHS leave on the morning of Thursday, September 3.
Eastern Regional Minister Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, addressing students, described the incident as unfortunate.
She highlighted that the students’ conduct fell far below government’s expectations of young people being trained to become responsible.
The Minister stated, “We are building a nation, not destroying one. It is a very sad note. This is not what we are looking for from you”.
“Our expectation as government is that we are growing you up for the future, so that one day, when we are not in, we’ll get a President among you, a minister among you, a teacher among you, a policeman among you [and] a fire service person among you.”
“Now that government is making sure we build the infrastructure that will take care of you so that the double track stops and we have single track, this is what you have decided to do,” she stated.
“We are building a nation; we are not destroying a nation. We are resetting our schools and resetting you students too.”
“Investigations are going on. Those who started throwing the stones here, both here and Okuapeman, we are not going to allow you to go scot-free,” she warned.
She further advised students to return peacefully to their respective homes immediately after being released by school authorities.
Watch the video below:
@ghnow_ Adu Boahene spotted at the Accra High Court earlier today #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ Students of Mount Sinai SHS and Okuapeman School have clashed violently, with fires reportedly destroying facilities at both schools. Six Okuapeman students were injured, while several classrooms and other facilities were damaged. #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – jack
