Youth Advocates Ghana (YAG), a youth-led non-profit committed to empowering and advocating for young people in Ghana, expresses profound concern over the alarming rise in violent incidents occurring in senior high schools nationwide.
Recent tragedies, including the fatal shooting at Bawku Senior High School, the heartbreaking stabbing at Kinbu SHS, and the devastating loss of lives at Nalerigu and Nkwanta SHS, have brought into sharp focus a crisis threatening the very foundation of our educational system and the well-being of Ghana’s youth. According to Ghana Education Service records, 27 senior high schools experienced severe violence between 2022 and 2025, ranging from deadly clashes, sabotage, and the use of dangerous weapons to mob attacks and destructive vandalism across Ghana. Schools, intended as sanctuaries of learning and personal growth, are increasingly turning into environments marked by fear, tragedy, and trauma. Such violent incidents not only threaten the lives and safety of students and teachers but also undermine Ghana’s educational foundation and societal values, including peace and security.
Youth Advocates Ghana recognizes that the root causes of this crisis are multifaceted. These include easy access to dangerous weapons by students, inadequate campus security measures, rising tensions from unresolved community and ethnic conflicts spilling into school environments, personal feuds among students, insufficient disciplinary measures to address student misconduct, and long-standing rivalry between schools in Ghana. Addressing these root causes requires swift, inclusive, and sustained action from all relevant stakeholders.
Ghana’s commitment to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 (UNSCR 2250) places an obligation on our nation to protect young people from violence and empower them as key agents of peacebuilding and social cohesion. The rising violence in our schools directly undermines this global Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda and hinders the ability of young Ghanaians to contribute meaningfully to the country’s sustainable development. As the world recognizes youth as critical partners in advancing peace and stability, it is imperative that Ghana upholds its obligations by creating enabling environments where young people are safe, included, and empowered.
In this regard, Youth Advocates Ghana urgently calls on the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment and the National Youth Authority (NYA) to expedite the finalization and operationalization of Ghana’s National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security. The absence of a robust and inclusive action plan continues to impede a coordinated national response and fails to fully harness the potential of young people in fostering peace. We further urge the Ministry of Education and other relevant agencies to mainstream YPS principles and peace education within school extracurricular activities, ensuring that conflict prevention, non-violence, and civic responsibility are deeply embedded in the learning experience.
It is essential for the government to form strong partnerships with youth organizations and civil society organizations (CSOs) to address violence in schools and communities at large. Youth-led and youth-serving organizations have consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership by raising awareness about non-violence and conflict resolution, providing psychosocial and mentorship support to students, mediating local disputes, and mobilizing communities to advocate for youth-friendly policies. Leveraging the expertise and community reach of these organizations is crucial to designing and implementing effective violence prevention programs, ultimately creating safer and more inclusive school environments across Ghana.
Youth Advocates Ghana recommends the following actions:
-
- Implement and adequately resource the National Youth Peace and Security Action Plan with clear timelines and active youth participation.
- Strengthen school security by deploying trained personnel, installing surveillance systems, enforcing random checks, and establishing effective reporting and early warning systems.
- Enforce zero-tolerance disciplinary policies to prevent violence and the possession of harmful items in schools.
- Expand inter-school partnerships by promoting safe, collaborative academic, cultural, sports and leadership exchanges programs that foster unity over competition.
- Promote community engagement and integrate peace and conflict resolution education in schools, while supporting peer-led initiatives such as Peace Ambassadors in schools.
Youth Advocates Ghana remains committed to supporting efforts aimed at restoring safety, dignity, and respect in educational institutions. Collectively, safeguarding Ghana’s youth, restoring trust in the education system, and reaffirming a shared responsibility to protect Ghana’s future are essential.
Signed,
Youth Advocates Ghana
For more information and media relations, please contact:
Dorcas Darlington, Policy and Advocacy Officer
Email: policy@youthsdgssummit.org
Tel: 0243008764