Last week, the media landscape was confronted with a disturbing development at the Bolgatanga Girls Senior High School (BOGISS), where two security men were accused of allegedly sexually abusing a 14-year-old student.
The incident, reported by Media Without Borders, an investigative media organisation based in Accra, involved two security guards of the public girls-only school in the Upper East Region. The two watchmen have since been arrested and arraigned before the Bolgatanga Circuit Court.
According to reports, one of the security men allegedly had sexual intercourse with the girl at night around the school’s dining hall, after evening preparation. A few days later, the second security man allegedly had sexual intercourse with her inside the security post, when she went there to collect her tablet, which she had left with the man to charge.
The allegations are particularly disturbing because the student is described by the Ghana Education Service (GES) as a special-needs student who was on medication. The Service said preliminary information indicated that the student had suffered a relapse and required medical attention when the alleged incident occurred.
The reports further indicate that the alleged abuse occurred on more than one occasion. The family has expressed frustration over the manner in which the matter was handled by the school. A family member, Akolbulgo-Zotipelba Ayeo-Duko, confirmed the incident and criticised the decision to withdraw the girl’s boarding status and convert her temporarily into a day student.
The family believes that keeping the girl in school is important to her development, particularly because she needs the opportunity to interact with her peers and develop her social skills. The family has also raised concerns about a letter from the school which allegedly described the girl as being “guilty of sexual misconduct” under the GES code of conduct.
If accurately reported, this is troubling. A child who is alleged to have been sexually abused should not be made to carry the burden of responsibility for the alleged actions of adult employees.
The school authorities must, therefore, clarify the circumstances surrounding the decision and ensure that the dignity and welfare of the child remain paramount. The Chronicle is happy that GES is conducting a thorough investigation into the matter.
The Chronicle is equally happy that the matter has assumed a legal dimension. The two suspects, identified as Adams Nyaaba Iddrisu, 72 and Elvis Adongo, 38, were arraigned before the Bolgatanga Circuit Court on Thursday, August 20, 2026 and remanded for two weeks.
This is significant because allegations of sexual abuse involving children must not be treated merely as internal disciplinary matters or allowed to disappear without accountability.
The development also comes at a time when concerns about the safety of girls in our schools continue to generate public discussion. Even before the recent incident at Bole Senior High School could be fully resolved, another disturbing case has emerged, raising serious questions about the protection of the girl-child in our educational institutions.
We cannot understand why any adult entrusted with the safety of children would allegedly take advantage of a vulnerable student. The circumstances of this case should, therefore, compel the authorities to examine not only the conduct of the accused persons, but also the safeguards in place to protect students.
Over the years, concerns have been raised about sexual abuse in schools. Such cases must not be swept under the carpet. Every allegation must be properly investigated, and where culpability is established, the law must take its course.
The girl child must be protected at all costs. Parents and guardians must also encourage their daughters to report inappropriate advances or conduct to trusted adults and school authorities.
We believe the days when abuse of the girl-child could be ignored must be over. Ghana cannot make meaningful progress in addressing gender inequality while girls remain vulnerable to abuse in places where they are expected to be safe.
The Chronicle insists that our schools must be safe spaces for learning, development and personal growth. The BOGISS case must, therefore, be pursued to its logical conclusion, while lessons are drawn to strengthen the protection of every child entrusted to our schools.
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