Editorial
Enough of bullying in schools
Dear Editor,
The death of a Senior High School (SHS) student, which reportedly was as a result of bullying at Konongo Odumase Senior High in the Ashanti Region, is still fresh on my mind. The sequence of the incident was not too clear but the reports indicate that the deceased was resisting bullying by his seniors.
As investigation into the incident continued, I have been wondering what the Ghana Education Service (GES) had been up to since this unfortunate incident. I have been expecting the GES to condemn and issue a stern warning against bullying but I am yet to find any concrete statement from them.
Many years ago, during my final year in Senior High School, our Headmaster was compelled to ban what we called “Nino’s Night” — an old tradition and a sort of an ‘unofficial’ welcome for first year students.
Some seniors, on that day, had plotted ‘revenge’ on some of the juniors and were ready to subject them to different forms of torture. When the teachers got wind of the plans they quickly took action and cancelled activities scheduled for the night.
Certainly, the Konongo Odumase incident had nothing to do with Nino’s Night but showed the extent to which some seniors would want to exert their authority on juniors.
I believe there are school regulations that proscribe bullying but it seems some students and teachers ignore them due to lack of enforcement.
It is time the GES introduced a policy document (if there is none) indicating zero tolerance for bullying in schools and must put measure in place to ensure such unfortunate incidents do not occur in future. We seem to have normalised bullying and must not allow the practice to fester.
My heart goes out to the school and family of the deceased while we wait patiently for details of police investigations into the incidents.
Pearl Adobea Otoo,
Asamankese.
Dear Editor,
I wish to draw the attention of the relevant authorities to the poor state of the railway crossing area of the Neoplan Station, near Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra, which is increasingly disrupting the smooth flow of traffic.
The damaged section of the road has become a major inconvenience to motorists, as vehicles are forced to slow down considerably when approaching the crossing to avoid damaging their tyres, wheels and suspension systems.
This situation causes unnecessary delays, particularly during peak hours when traffic volumes are high.
The crossing is an important route for commuters and commercial drivers who use the Circle area to connect to other parts of the capital.
The deteriorating road surface therefore affects not only individual motorists but also the general movement of vehicles through this busy transport hub.
Beyond the inconvenience, the situation could increase the risk of minor accidents as drivers brake suddenly or attempt to manoeuvre around damaged portions of the road.
I respectfully appeal to the Department of Urban Roads, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and other relevant agencies to inspect the affected section and undertake urgent repairs to restore the smooth movement of traffic.
Timely intervention will reduce delays, improve road safety and make commuting through the Circle area more convenient.
Yours faithfully,
Concerned Citizen
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Dear Editor,
I wish to draw the attention of the authorities and the general public to the increasing cost of hostel accommodation, particularly for students in tertiary institutions.
The high cost of hostels has become a serious challenge for many students and their parents.
In some areas, hostel fees have increased significantly, making it difficult for students from low- and middle-income families to secure decent accommodation.
Apart from the hostel fees, students also have to pay for transportation, food, learning materials and other academic needs.
The rising cost of accommodation therefore puts additional financial pressure on families and, in some cases, forces students to live in overcrowded or poorly maintained facilities.
I believe hostel owners and relevant authorities must work together to ensure that accommodation remains affordable while maintaining acceptable standards.
Tertiary institutions should also consider expanding student accommodation and encouraging affordable private hostel projects.
The government and local authorities could further support the development of low-cost student accommodation through appropriate policies and incentives.
I therefore appeal to the Ministry of Education, tertiary institutions and other stakeholders to treat the issue as a matter of urgency.
Affordable and decent accommodation is essential to creating a conducive environment for students to study and succeed.
This has in a way also empowered the private people in the accommodation sector to take undue advantage of the situation to charge exorbitant rates for their services.
Kwame Ampiaw,
Accra
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