Bolga Technical Institute closed down after rampaging students torched school property
The Bolgatanga Technical Institute (BOTECH) in the Upper East Region has been closed down indefinitely following a violent students protest on Friday (August 15) that has left six students injured and several school properties destroyed by fire.
The disturbance, which reportedly began around 12:30 a.m., saw some irate students vandalising and setting ablaze the school’s library block, which is attached to the administration block and the senior housemaster’s office.
The school’s library was burnt, with almost all books and furniture destroyed.
The school’s electricity meter and fuses in the Administration block were also destroyed, while the side mirrors of a faulty school bus, with registration number GV 414-17, was damaged in several parts.
What triggered the protest
Some staff of the school who spoke to Graphic Online said they were taken by surprise at the students’ action as they could not point to the cause of the protest.
"I don't know what actually caused this and I have enquired from my colleagues and they seem not to have an idea what has caused this protest because we all reported to work only to be surprised by this," a staff member said.
However, some sources revealed that the unrest was allegedly triggered by the suspension of six students for misconduct.
On Thursday night, some of their colleagues were said to have mobilised to retaliate, leading to the violent scenes.
Swift response from personnel of the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana National Fire Service brought the situation under control which prevented the blaze from spreading to other facilities like the administration block.
The injured students are receiving treatment at the Upper East Regional Hospital.
Immediate closure
Upon assessing the situation, the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) ordered the indefinite closure of the school to help de-escalate tensions and facilitate ongoing investigations. Six students suspected to be directly involved in the violence are currently wanted by the police.
Meanwhile, all the students have been sent home with the school under tight security patrol police officers.
Background
In 2022, a similar incident at the Bolgatanga Technical Institute led to its indefinite closure after violent clashes erupted between students and security personnel during their final examinations.
The unrest began when four students and two teachers were picked up by officials of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) for alleged involvement in examination malpractice.
Investigations revealed that some final-year students had connived with two second-year students who had obtained a copy of a mathematics paper on their phones. Answers were provided to the final-year students, who left the examination hall under various pretexts to access the solutions before returning to complete their scripts.
The arrests prompted invigilators to tighten movement restrictions in the exam hall, refusing to allow students to leave during the paper. This angered many students, who resorted to violence, vandalising school properties and attacking staff.
Similarly, the Zuarungu SHS and Bawku Senior High Technical School also in the region currently remain closed as well due to disturbing incidents.
