A Physical Education teacher at Swedru School of Business (SWESBU), Joseph Bennie, popularly known as “Scanty Mono”, has welcomed the decision by the Ghana Education Service (GES) to suspend all sporting activities in the Central Region following the alleged assault of a student after an inter-schools competition earlier this week.
Mr Bennie described the directive as “tough but necessary”, stressing that the temporary suspension would help to calm tensions and restore order after disturbances that reportedly erupted in the aftermath of the games.
According to him, while the decision may disappoint many young athletes, it is an important step towards safeguarding students and reinforcing discipline within school sports.
“It is not an easy decision, but under the circumstances, it is the right one,” he noted. “The safety and well-being of our students must always come first.”
The incident, which has sparked widespread concern among teachers, parents and school authorities, is said to have occurred shortly after the conclusion of the competition, marring what should have been a celebration of sporting excellence and unity among participating schools.
However, Mr Bennie expressed concern for students who had already qualified for upcoming regional competitions and were preparing to showcase their talents on a larger stage.
“My heart goes out to the students who worked tirelessly to qualify,” he said. “They were ready to prove themselves and demonstrate their potential. It is unfortunate that their preparations have been interrupted by this incident.”
He also voiced disappointment that the hard work and sacrifice of teachers and coaches, who had dedicated weeks of training and preparation, had been overshadowed by what he described as an avoidable occurrence.
“As teachers, we invest a great deal of time and effort in grooming these students for major competitions. For such an unfortunate incident to derail their progress is deeply disheartening,” he added.
Mr Bennie called on stakeholders, including school authorities, students and parents, to reflect on the incident and work collectively to promote discipline, sportsmanship and mutual respect in school sports.
The Ghana Education Service is yet to indicate when sporting activities in the region will resume, but education officials say measures are being considered to ensure that future competitions are conducted in a safe and orderly environment.