Two SWESBUS students arrested over Agona Swedru school games attack

Two students of Swedru School of Business have been arrested in connection with a mob attack on a student of Obrachire Senior High Technical School during the District Schools Athletics Games at Agona Swedru, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service, Commissioner of Police Lydia Yaako Donkor, has confirmed.

The suspects, Benedict Appiah, 18, and Bilal Mamud, 18, were handed over to the Agona Swedru Divisional CID on February 23, 2026, at about 9:00 pm by the authorities of Swedru School of Business, led by the Assistant Headmaster in charge of Domestic Affairs, Mr Michael Nii Kwaku Buxton.

The arrests followed a 24-hour ultimatum COP Donkor issued to the Headmaster of Swedru School of Business, Mr Justice Kojo Frimpong, during a meeting with the management of both schools on February 23, 2026, to produce students linked to the attack or face police action.

“The CID acknowledges the prompt action taken by the school authorities in ensuring that the suspects were handed over without delay,” COP Donkor said.

The incident has raised concerns about safety at inter-school sports events.

The violence occurred on February 19, 2026, during the athletics competition in Agona Swedru. A confrontation between students of the two schools escalated into a physical attack. A student from Obrachire Senior High Technical School was assaulted by a group believed to be from Swedru School of Business. The victim was beaten with sticks and pelted with stones before others intervened.

Videos shared on social media showed scenes of panic as the incident unfolded.

Eight students sustained injuries, with three said to be in a serious condition, according to the Awutu Senya West District Chief Executive.

COP Donkor said the main victim is receiving treatment and responding to care.

At the meeting, COP Donkor directed the headmaster, Mr Frimpong, to identify and hand over the students involved.

“If somebody has worn your school uniform to create such a scene, or to conduct himself in such a manner, attacking a fellow human being, it is giving your school a bad name. As a school, you should be concerned to find out who did that and hand them over to the Police. So, I am giving you twenty-four hours to produce the students who attacked the boys. Your twenty-four hours start now,” she said.

She said the Police had other options to secure suspects but held back out of respect for the school setting.

She added that the acts captured in the video amount to criminal conduct and go beyond internal school discipline.

COP Donkor said investigations have begun to establish the full facts and identify all those involved. She said more arrests are expected and that all persons found culpable will face the law, whether or not they are handed over by school authorities.

All other individuals connected to the assault have been directed to report voluntarily to assist with investigations. COP Donkor warned that failure to do so “will result in them being tracked, arrested, and made to face the full rigours of the law.”

She said the Police will continue to act to maintain law and order and promote safety in schools, adding that violence in educational institutions will not be tolerated and that discipline, safety and accountability in schools remain non-negotiable.

The Ghana Education Service has also taken action following the incident. In a directive issued on February 22, 2026, the Central Regional Director of Education, Dr Juliette Dufie Otami, suspended all inter-school sporting activities in Senior High Schools and Senior High Technical Schools in the region until further notice.

Dr Otami said school heads must halt all competitions and inform students, staff and other stakeholders.

She said school sports are meant to promote discipline, teamwork and mutual respect, but those values were undermined by the events at Agona Swedru. She added that competitions will resume only when safety can be assured.

The Deputy Minister for Education, Dr Clement Abas Apaak, said those responsible should expect severe sanctions, indicating that disciplinary action will go beyond criminal proceedings to include academic penalties.