The Ghana Education Service (GES) has been petitioned to investigate the physical assault and indefinite suspension of Abraham Sambou, a third-year student at Labone Senior High School.
In a letter to the GES dated June 21, Mrs. Raissa Ebu reported that the incident occurred on June 18 when the House Master, Mr. Eric Agyemang, also known as “Power,” allegedly slapped Sambou. This followed a false accusation by the school prefect, Blessing Nyamekye, claiming Sambou was using a mobile phone and refused to surrender it.
“In addition to the assault, Master Sambou was prevented from attending classes on the same day and was kept in the senior house master’s office without food or water until after 2 PM, when we arrived to meet with the school’s management,” Mrs. Ebu stated. “Following this, Master Sambou has been indefinitely expelled from the boarding house despite his denial of the false allegations. Master Sambou maintains that he does not use a phone at school; he was merely defending himself against the prefect’s harassment and false accusation.”
Mrs. Ebu expressed that this unjustified, undocumented expulsion without due process has created significant issues for the entire family, as Sambou would now have to travel daily from Kasoa in the Central Region to Labone, Accra. “The family is deeply concerned about the mistreatment of our ward, Master Sambou, and the conduct of the school authorities, particularly Mr. Agyemang, who has admitted to slapping the vulnerable final-year student—a student who needs all the psychological help he can get as the WASSCE approaches.”
Mr. Agyemang justified his actions by claiming Sambou lied about his father’s availability when asked to provide his father’s phone number. It was later confirmed that Sambou’s father was indeed unavailable as the call was eventually answered by the boy’s mother. During their visit to the school to discuss the issue, the headmistress, Mrs. Rejoice Acorlor, openly supported Mr. Agyemang’s actions, stating she would have acted even more severely by slapping the boy and hitting him with her shoes. “She also mentioned that if the incident had occurred before the registration for the WASSCE, she would have ensured Master Sambou was not registered for the exam,” Mrs. Ebu added.
Mrs. Ebu pointed out that such a stance by the headmistress raises serious concerns about the school’s governance and the quality of education. “The wrongful actions against Abraham Sambou have caused significant distress and disruption to his education, particularly as he prepares for his final examination. Following the assault, Master Sambou has been experiencing severe headaches and pain in his left ear and left eye, necessitating treatment at the Amanfro Polyclinic on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.”
Mrs. Ebu also noted that Mr. Agyemang has a photograph on his WhatsApp Display Picture (contact number 0244382506) in which he is seen purportedly displaying a gun. “It is imperative that Master Abraham Sambou is given a fair hearing as required by natural law so that he can continue his studies without undue physical and psychological trauma,” she stated.
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