Category: Events

Information reaching the Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) an NGO championing the fight against all forms of abuse indicates that striking teachers and the school management have asked nearly 19 students of Annor Adjaye SHS located at Ezilinbo in the Jomoro Municipality of the Western Region to go home for “strange reasons”.

The punitive measure was taken because the students were seen in their dormitories during contact hours during the teachers’ ongoing strike.

Teachers have been on strike since July 4 2022, while this decision was taken on 7th July 2022.

Unconfirmed reports indicated that the students have been studying on their own since July 4th without teachers attending to their needs as they prepare for the 2022 WASSCE examination.

Before the school issued the letter to the students, the victims had as usual gone to class to study on their own and reported to the school dormitory later to carry out other duties as required of them.

On the said day, the final year students got to class and realized the SHS1 students were getting ready for their end-of-semester examination, which required the SHS1 students to use the Seniors Block close to the school’s assembly hall. This block occupies final-year students during normal school hours.

The presence of the SHS1 students, and the impending end-of-semester examination, meant the final-year students would not be able to use the facility.

Some final year students went to the school canteen, while others returned to the school dormitory to enable the SHS1 students to concentrate and write their examinations.

However, some teachers followed the students to the dormitory, which compelled students to start running away.

Those who were convinced their teachers meant good by following them were summoned and later given letters to go on two weeks suspension.

The about 19 students were asked to bring out their bags, tranks, and chop boxes. They were later parked into the school bus to be driven to the main junction without any information to their parents about the decision by the school per our sources.

Students were asked to get down halfway through the journey and were left stranded. The students have since complained about the treatment meted to them without the school authorities hearing their side of the story.

The Ghana Education Service prior to this event had cautioned students to obey school rules or face stiffer sanctions for not cooperating with school management and for breaking school rules. It directed authorities to report students who smoke or engage in any criminal activity to the police or de-boardinized those who deserve it among others.

The big question is, What do the rules for asking students to leave school on suspension say? And will it not be prudent that parents are informed about the decision of the school before any such actions are taken? What happens to a student who is left stranded by the school in the middle of nowhere if the candidate has no funds to commute home, or if something bad happens to the said student while journeying home?

Per the letter issued by the management of the school, the final year students will be de-boardinized after serving the two weeks suspension.

In a related development, the Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) which broke the news about the dehumanizing treatment meted to the student of the same school on Mother’s Day has written to the Ghana Education Service to furnish it with proof of decisions and sanctions against the teachers who flogged students mercilessly in May 2022.

The Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) has conveyed its wishes in a letter requesting the Ghana Education Service (GES) to part with the full proof of information on the outcomes of the investigation it has conducted backed by the details of sanctions meted out to the 7 teachers who mercilessly flogged and inflicted cane wounds on 19 final year students of the Annor Adjaye Senior High School in the Jomoro Municipality of the Western Region of Ghana on Sunday, May 8, 2022.

The HRRG further looks forward to a swift response from the GES in the above matters which it believes demand more attention at the school, district, regional, and national levels compared to the current issue and the action taken by the school.

The letter issued and signed by Mr. Francis Essel, the head teacher, reads…

I write to inform you that your ward……has been suspended for two weeks with immediate effect. He is to stay with you in the house for two weeks, after which he will be made a day student.

The decision by management is a result of him staying in the dormitory during classes hours.

You are to offer him pieces of advice that will discourage him from such behaviour within the period of his stay with you.

Source:Human Rights Reporters Ghana

Prof. Kwame Karikari, Former Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has entreated the Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) to come on board and support the Coalition for Democratic Accountability and Inclusive Governance in its bid to end democratic decline and secure inclusive governance and development in Ghana.

“You are part of the agenda so try and join the coalition and help the good cause to succeed”.

He made this call while speaking at a media engagement and the launch of the Coalition for Democratic Accountability and Inclusive Governance also known as the Citizens’ Coalition in Accra on Monday July 4, 2022.

Prof. Karikari was responding to a question posed by the C.E.O. of the Human Rights Reporters, Joseph Wemakor on what practical steps or measures would the Coalition be exploring the burgeoning human rights issues the country is confronted when he made the call for the Human Rights Reporters Ghana to join the Coalition.

Prof. Karikari responding to a question by Joseph Wemakor, the Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters on what practical steps or measures would be adopted by the Coalition to help address the burgeoning human rights issues the country is confronted with, explains the Citizens’ Coalition mandate seeks to give backing to various initiatives being championed by both individuals, groups and organizations in the country which conforms to their agenda to thrive.  

“Most organizations have their mandate which they’re already working on. Some are working on women’s right issues, others are already working on corruption, issues, and others are dealing with many aspects of issues concerning society”.

“So these organizations would not stop doing the work they’re doing, so collectively we would pick up issues that are of national scale, both small or big but we think if your organization is a member or even if you’re not a member, but we think that the matter you are dealing with is of such imports, then we have the volition to join you or to pick up that issue”.  

Ghanaians have, in recent months been experiencing a very rapid deterioration of their living conditions occasioned partly by the persistent depreciation of the cedi; leading to a severe weakening of the purchasing power of most working people, and the unprecedented steep rise in the cost of living as food prices continue to soar. Prices of petroleum products are on the rise; affecting cost of transportation amongst other things. Rent is equally high. These factor have invariably affected the cost of health care amongst Ghanaians, as well as other basic necessities.

According to Citizens’ Coalition, measures taken by authorities so far do not seem to have the potency to mitigate these serious challenges but rather they blamed their failure on the prevailing socio-economic challenges are a global phenomenon occasioned by the combined effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia/Ukraine war.

In a presentation made by Nana Afadzinu, the Executive Director of WACSI on behalf of the Coalition, several issues confronting the country were raised which include the monster of youth unemployment, corruption and the needless waste of public resources, the purported reclassification of the Achimota Forest Reserve and matters arising, government’s steps at implementing the Agyapa Royalties Agreements and matters arising, improper accounting for Covid-19 funds and failure in passage of the Affirmative Action Bill to law

The Citizens’ Coalition is of the view that the socio-economic and governance challenges faced by the country have reached critical dimensions hence there’s the need to join forces and put pressure on government to rise up to the occasion and deal with the issues to ensure democratic renewal, economic and social justice prevail.

“Fellow country men and women, we are gravely concerned that these developments, if not checked, would continue to pose an ever-increasing existential threat to our democracy. It would embolden misguided political actors and elements and even sections of our population, particularly our youth, who see no relief in the existing state of affairs, to consider as appropriate, disruptive and authoritarian alternatives to constitutional democracy”.

“This is why a number of civil society organizations and individuals have come together to form this non-partisan coalition/movement which would harness democratic renewal, economic and social justice. This movement shall be known as the Coalition for Democratic Accountability and Inclusive Governance, CITIZENS’ COALITION for short”.

On Sunday 8th May 2022 which happened to be Mother’s Day, teachers and some management members of the Annor Agyaye SHS decided to do the unthinkable by abusing unarmed students of the school.

The offence for which the students were brutally caned and hurt by the teachers was because they were getting late for the Sunday morning service. This abuse hinges on the violation of students’ rights to freedom of worship and religion and at the same time on the need to obey school rules as students, however, the magnitude of the effort to correct the students was uncalled-for and the use of banned means of corrections which amounts to punishment is uncalled-for either.

The offence of the students gathered so far points to being late for the Sunday morning church service.

The Director indicated in the latest interview that the act by the teachers were their first offense, however, HRRG is aware that one of the management members who is the head of academics inflicted cutlass wounds on a final year student in 2020. This act which he led cannot be his first offense. The 2020 act is documented online (Check here).

From further investigations, the leadership of the school failed to follow guidelines for organizing entertainment programs for the students. The rules indicate such programs which will require day students to take part should not be held in the evening. However the leadership organized an entertainment programme for the students in the evening which closed late. The students therefore, could not wake up early as they used to, to get ready for church service.

Does this warrant the “animalistic treatment meted out to the students? NO…

The HRRG has questions for the GES.

SOME QUESTIONS THAT THE GES MUST ANSWER TO CLEAR THE AIR AND CONVINCE DECERNING GHANAIANS

1. How many teachers where demoted?
2. From which position to position or ranks were they demoted from and to?

3.Why were some of the teachers sanctioned and not all?

1. When were they demoted or sanctioned.
2. What documents or letters can serve as proof of the actions taken by the GES?
3. Which sort of counseling were the victims (students) taken through?
4. Who settled the hospital bills of the affected students who were treated and discharged according to the claims of the Western Regional Director of Education, Mad. Felicia Okai?

When the video accompanying the said barbaric acts went viral, the Western Regional Director of Education, Mad. Felicia Okai during an interview on Angel FM and TV assured the public that the educators involved will be dealt with.

However, nearly two months after the incident the GES has failed to inform the public of actions it has taken as a form of sanction which would serve as a deterrent to like-minded professionals in the education sector.

The Human Rights Reporters Ghana(HRRG), an NGO championing the fight against abuse , human rights infringements and such matters is not convinced the GES has carried out the necessary sanctions given the magnitude of the act which has become a matter of public interest. Sanctions it says it has taken do not bare names and have not been made public.

The HRRG is of the view that since the inhumane treatment become public knowledge, the best way to keep stakeholders informed is to give them information on steps taken so far.

The HRRG is of the view that until it sees documents and undisputable proofs that the teachers who acted contrary to the GES code of conducts have been dealt with in line with the code, it will continue to believe nothing has been done and that the GES is shielding teachers involved which includes top management members of the school.

The GES has disclosed some teachers have been demoted among other actions taken.

“Many many more questions to answer in addition to the above to clear our minds out of doubt. The GES must come out publicly on clear terms to help us put the matter to rest.”
The HRRG stated.

“Information from our sources on the ground indicates that nothing has been done in terms of sanctions meted out to the teachers who misconducted themselves” The HRRG said during the interview on Angel FM on June 26 2022.

With the above information gathered, the HRRG is of the view that there’s a possible attempt by the GES to shield the teachers of wrongdoing.

Source: HRRG

The Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), a media advocacy cum human rights non-governmental organization has expressed utter shock over the unfortunate and almost preventable incident of deadly explosion which reportedly claimed over 13 lives leaving other 59 persons battling with varying degrees of injuries on January 20 2022 at Appiatse near Bogoso in the Western North Region of Ghana.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Joseph Wemakor copied to the media, HRRG expressed its deepest condolences to the affected persons, their families including residents of Appiatse for their plight.

“HRRG, whose sole aim is to bring to light and seek remedy for women, girls and children who are victims of human rights abuses in the country, commiserates with victims of the explosion of the truck conveying mining explosives intended for the Chirano gold mines which reportedly collided with a motorcycle, causing the lives of innocent residents and rendering about 954 homeless, according to the National Disaster Management Organization (NAMDO).”

HRRG lauded the state institutions for responding swiftly to the aftermath of the disaster to bring the situation under control and to avert further causalities.

While appealing to the government’s commission of enquiry to corroborate reports by launching full scale investigation into the true sequence of events as a result of inconsistent reports on the saga, the vibrant rights group equally called for massive support towards the victims and survivors alike to enable them get back on their feet’s. 

“For instance, initial reports indicated the motorcycle rider had died instantly on the scene but he comes out to deny this assertion.

This leaves us with more questions than answers, therefore lend support attempts to bring full closure to this incident as we hope to expend more energy on the recovery of devastated families and their reintegration into society”, the statement concluded.

Read the full statement here: