Violence erupts at Eastern Regional Inter-Schools sports festival as student is stabbed

Tension flared at the Eastern Regional Inter-Schools Sports Festival in Koforidua after a student of Koforidua Senior High Technical School (SECTECH) was stabbed, triggering fears of reprisals and exposing serious security lapses at the event.

The injured student, identified as Jerome Appiah, was reportedly attacked by a group of Form Two students from New Juaben Senior High School while he was eating waakye on his way back to campus. He sustained a deep machete wound to the shoulder and reportedly bled heavily before help arrived.

Officers from the Eastern Regional Police Command responded promptly and conveyed the victim to the Eastern Regional Hospital. Hospital sources say Jerome Appiah is in stable condition and receiving treatment.

In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the Headmaster of Koforidua SECTECH, Emmanuel Frimpong Benjabeng, together with some members of staff, rushed to the Koforidua Youth Resource Centre — the main venue for the sports festival — to calm tensions and prevent possible retaliatory action by angry students.

At the time of the incident, Mr. Benjabeng was in a meeting with the New Juaben South Municipal Director of Education, Mustapha Haruna Appiah, when reports of fresh disturbances began to surface.

Further unrest was later reported at the venue, during which the Municipal Education Director reportedly sustained a head injury after being hit by a stone. The clash is said to have involved students of Nsutam Senior High Technical School, who were allegedly pelting stones during the confusion.

Reacting to the developments, Mr. Appiah expressed deep concern about the recurring violence that continues to mar inter-school sporting activities. He called for a comprehensive investigation into the stabbing and the subsequent disturbances, while urging the police and event organisers to beef up security to safeguard students and officials.

The incident has once again reignited public debate over safety at school sports festivals, with calls for stricter supervision and enhanced security protocols to prevent future violence.