News
Senior housemaster suspended for invoking curse on students
What began as idle student gossip at the Nkenkenso Senior High School in Offinso-North of the Ashanti region has erupted into a scandal that has shaken the institution, drawing a stern gaze of the Ghana Education Service (GES).
At the centre of the storm is Mr Akwasi Opoku—known to students as ‘Striker’—the Senior Housemaster now suspended after allegedly invoking a curse on three school boys under his care.
It all started with whispers. The students had reportedly linked Mr Opoku to the tragic death of a teacher who died in a motor accident following an alleged altercation. When the rumours reached him, the confrontation that followed was anything but ordinary. In a moment that stunned the school community, Mr Opoku was said to have pronounced a curse on the boys.
The story took an even darker turn when his mother, reputed to be a chief priestess, allegedly performed rituals tied to the curse. To undo it, the students were initially asked to pay GH¢1,000 each. But later they offered six fowls, one guinea fowl, three bottles of Schnapps and GH¢500 each before the curse was said to be overturned.
For households already struggling, the financial burden was crushing; for the students, the emotional toll was far worse. Fear replaced youthful confidence, and the classroom became a place of dread.
Attempts by the Headmaster and the District Director of Education to quietly resolve the matter failed until the GES stepped in. On February 24, the GES issued a statement condemning Mr Opoku’s actions which it described as “unprofessional and damaging to the reputation of both the school and the GES.”
He has since been suspended, directed to hand over all school property and documents to the Assistant Headmaster while investigations continue.
The incident has sparked outrage and soul-searching as parents consider the safety of their children in the hands of those entrusted with their welfare.
For now, the students at Nkenkenso Senior High School walk their campus with a mix of relief and lingering fear; relief that the curse has been lifted and fear that authority could be wielded in ways that leave them vulnerable.
The GES investigation will determine Mr Opoku’s fate, but the case has already become a mirror reflecting broader concerns: professionalism in education, accountability in leadership, and the fragile trust between educators and the young lives they shape.
As one parent put it, “We bring our children here to learn, not to live in fear of curses.”
When the Headmaster of the School, Kwaku Djan-Asante, was contacted on phone, he would not give details, saying the “case is now being handled by the GES.”
The chairman of the Parents Teacher Association (PTA), Mr Thomas Addicossi Dieudonne, confirmed to The Spectator and insisted that, “We have taken a strong decision that we don’t want Mr Opoku in the school any more.”
“Even though the GES is yet to determine the case, this is our position,” he added.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
THE 2026 Akwambo Festival at Gomoa Amoanda in the Ga East District has been held with a call for unity, peace, and collective action towards local development.
The festival, celebrated under the theme: ‘Unity, Peace and Development,’ provided a platform for community leaders and residents to highlight critical challenges affecting health, education, water, and sanitation in the area.
The durbar took place on Saturday at the Town Square of Gomoa Amoanda, attracting chiefs, elders, and residents from across the district.
Addressing the gathering, the Odikro of Gomoa Amoanda, Nana Kofi Budu Sersah IV, appealed for urgent government and stakeholder support to address the lack of a CHPS compound, reliable drinking water, proper school infrastructure, and additional teachers.
He disclosed that land had been allocated for the construction of a CHPS compound and called for support from the government, corporate bodies, and benevolent individuals.
Touching on sanitation, Nana Budu Sersah IV noted that the construction of a public toilet had stalled due to financial constraints and appealed for assistance to complete the project.
Representing the Central Regional Minister, Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere, the District Chief Executive for Gomoa East, Margaret Naana Ackom, pledged government support for key development initiatives.
She announced a donation of 20 bags of cement for the public toilet and assured further assistance for other projects once land was made available.
The Prampimhene of the Awutu Traditional Area in the Central Region, Nana Okromansah Klordey I, who also serves as the Mankrado of Pakro Akuapim in the Eastern Region under the stool name of Nana Ntow Amoah II, expressed concern over rising drug abuse among youth.
By Stephanie Birikorang
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THE Ofankor–Nsawam road commuters appear to have breathe a sigh of relief over the progress of work on the road project which has reached 81 per cent completion.
A visit by The Spectator to the project site revealed that a significant portion of the road had already been asphalted, while most of the storm drains and culverts had been completed.
In addition, the various flyovers and pedestrian footbridges were at different stages of completion.
This appears to be the best news for commuters that ply the road daily as information indicated that the project would be completed on schedule.
According to the Chief Resident Engineer, Kwabena Bempong, steady progress had been made across the 33.4-kilometre stretch.
He expressed the hope that the remaining works would be delivered within the revised timeline, subject to the resolution of outstanding land issues at Nsawam Junction.
The Ofankor–Nsawam road forms part of National Route Six (N6), a major arterial highway linking Accra to the northern parts of the country and extending further to the Sahelian regions of West Africa.
The project scope includes the construction of four major interchanges at Amasaman, Pobiman, Medie and Nsawam Junction, alongside service roads and other ancillary facilities and is valued at $346.5 million.
By Kingsley Asare
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