More than 10 students have been arrested in connection with violent clashes between Okuapeman Senior High School and Mount Sinai Senior High School in the Akuapem North Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The arrests follow violent confrontations between students of the two schools in the early hours of Wednesday, September 3, which led to several facilities on both campuses being damaged by fire.
Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Joseph Owusu-Bempah, confirmed the arrests, saying the police are working to identify and apprehend other suspects.
“We have apprehended them. And there are more,” he told Accra-based Citi FM.
He disclosed that some students fled when police arrived on the campuses, but assured that all escapees would be traced and arrested.
According to him, police are compiling a comprehensive list of individuals suspected to have taken part in the violence.
DCOP Owusu-Bempah further revealed that investigations have uncovered allegations that some teachers may have incited students to attack their counterparts.
“We have the names of the teachers. They have nowhere to go. At the appropriate time, we will arrest all of them, and their names will be published,” he warned.
He said the teachers whose names have emerged will be arrested if their involvement is established.
The police are yet to establish the exact cause of the confrontation but say investigations are ongoing to determine what triggered the violence and the roles played by students and other persons.
The clashes left six students of Okuapeman SHS injured. The school’s headmaster said four have been treated and discharged, while two remain under medical care.
Several facilities at both schools were reportedly burnt and vandalised during the violence.
DCOP Owusu-Bempah urged students to return to school and cooperate with investigations, and cautioned the public against interfering with the process.
He assured that anyone found culpable would face the law, with more arrests expected in the coming days.
