Editorial: Decisive Action Must Be Taken To Curb Student Violence

A student of Christian Methodist Senior High School in Weija, Ga South Municipal District, , has been brutally attacked by his colleagues over an alleged mobile phone theft. A video shared on social media captures several male students assaulting the accused student and vandalising property, while bystanders scramble for safety.

According to the story, the incident occurred on Thursday, 27th February 2025, when the accused student was allegedly attacked, forcing him to flee to a nearby shop. Another segment of the video shows the victim with a disfigured face, an injured mouth and a blood-stained shirt, sitting in a provision shop, as he narrated his ordeal.

According to his account, he was merely instructed by an unnamed individual to take the phone in question on their behalf. However, he was later accused of theft by his colleagues. Reports indicate that in the aftermath of the attack, some students proceeded to vandalise the shop and even stabbed a community member in the eye with a pair of scissors.

This incident at the Christian Methodist Senior High School adds to the growing trend of indiscipline and mob justice among students lately. This brutal assault, which was captured in a viral video, not only resulted in severe physical injuries but also sparked broader violence, including property destruction and a retaliatory attack by community members.

In recent months, Ghana has witnessed a surge in violent clashes among students in various senior high schools. For example, on February 23, 2025Sokode Senior High Technical School in the Volta Region was temporarily closed following violent confrontations between students and local youth. The unrest reportedly began when students were attacked while attempting to buy provision in town, sparking retaliatory violence.

Similarly, on January 28, 2025 a viral video depicted chaotic scenes of violent clashes between students of Accra High School and Kinbu Senior High School. Additionally, on February 5, 2025 twenty students from Salaga Senior High School in the East Gonja Municipality were arrested, following a violent fight that left one individual with multiple stab wounds.

These incidents paint a worrying picture of the current state of discipline and conflict resolution among students. The increasing frequency of student-led violence suggests that the problem extends beyond individual schools and reflects deeper systemic issues.

Several factors contribute to this growing menace, including weak disciplinary measures in schools, peer pressure, exposure to violent content on social media and a lack of effective conflict resolution mechanisms. If left unchecked, this trend threatens not only the safety of students and staff but also the very essence of academic environments as places of learning and personal development.

The rise of mob justice and student violence poses a significant threat to the rule of law and democratic values in the country. When individuals or groups take justice into their own hands, it undermines the authority of legal institutions and promotes a culture where violence becomes an acceptable means of conflict resolution.

It is high time school authorities wake up and take decisive action to curb student violence, while the justice system must work diligently to restore public confidence and discourage vigilante actions. The time to act is now, before such unchecked violence becomes an accepted norm rather than an exception.

 

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