The National Council of Parent Teacher Associations (NCPTAs) has commended coordinated action taken by the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service (GES), and the Upper East Regional Police Command over the sexual abuse of a 14-year-old student with autism at Bolgatanga Girls’ Senior High School (BOGISS), while demanding full accountability under Ghanaian law.
As the apex body representing parents and PTAs across Ghana, the NCPTAs said it speaks with both the grief of parents and the resolve of citizens determined to protect every child in the country’s schools, following the release of separate but coordinated statements from state institutions on the matter.
The NCPTAs commended the Ministry of Education, under Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, for its immediate condemnation of the act, its directive for investigation, the provision of medical and psychosocial support to the victim, and the order for immediate reinstatement of the student’s boarding status, describing these steps as affirmation that the welfare of the child comes first.
The organisation also praised the Ghana Education Service for the prompt interdiction of the two watchmen implicated in the case, alongside assurances that further disciplinary action would follow in line with the GES Code of Conduct for Staff.
It further commended the Ghana Police Service in the Upper East Region for the arrest of suspects Elvis Adongo, 38, and Adams Nyaaba Iddrisu, 72, along with the commitment to prosecute them before court.
“We acknowledge this as a demonstration of institutional responsibility and urge that the momentum be sustained to its logical conclusion.”
National Council of Parent Teacher Associations (NCPTAs)
Violation Of Trust, NCPTAs Insists
Drawing on Ghanaian proverbial wisdom, the NCPTAs described the incident as a violation of the very foundation of society, where adults are meant to serve as custodians rather than predators of children and the vulnerable.
“If the person who is supposed to carry you on his back is the one who pushes you down, where then will the child run to?”
National Council of Parent Teacher Associations (NCPTAs)
The organisation reaffirmed the Ministry’s position that no child, particularly one with special needs, can be held responsible for sexual abuse perpetrated by an adult, insisting that the victim deserves protection, dignity, and full support rather than stigma.
The NCPTAs expressed deep concern that one of the suspects is a 72-year-old man engaged as a school security officer, questioning the basis for employing someone of retirement age in a role demanding vigilance, strength, and sound judgment to protect children.
The organisation insisted that Ghana’s schools must not become a dumping ground for public service retirees, calling on GES to institute an immediate policy shift toward engaging vetted, alert, and vibrant young security personnel of character and integrity.
Demand For Administrative Accountability
The NCPTAs called for a two-pronged approach to justice, beginning with administrative accountability. I
t demanded that GES ensure the interdicted staff are dismissed in accordance with the Code of Conduct and debarred from public service, alongside a nationwide vetting and audit of all security personnel and non-teaching staff in schools, covering age, background checks, and fitness for duty.
The organisation further called for mandatory child protection and safeguarding training, with specific modules addressing students with special educational needs, alongside a review of recruitment practices to ensure schools are staffed with personnel capable of effectively safeguarding students.
Beyond administrative sanctions, the NCPTAs insisted that the matter constitutes a criminal offence against a child that goes beyond internal discipline.
It called on the Attorney-General, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Judiciary to ensure diligent prosecution under Section 101 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), covering the defilement of a child under 16 years, the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560), and Article 28 of the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees every child protection from physical and moral harm.
The organisation was unequivocal in its demand that the prosecution proceed without compromise, insisting on no plea bargains and no delays.
Call To Parents, Schools and Stakeholders
The NCPTAs urged all Regional and School PTAs to collaborate with school management and GES to strengthen safeguarding measures, including monitored access points, safe and supervised device-charging areas, and strict visitor logs, while also advocating for the inclusion of child protection education within PTA meetings.
The organisation specifically called on the BOGISS PTA Chairman and executives, alongside the Upper East Regional NCPTA leadership, to show immediate solidarity with the victim and her family, and to cooperate fully with state institutions to ensure justice is pursued without compromise, stressing that silence at this moment is not an option.
In its closing remarks, the National PTA expressed solidarity with the family of the BOGISS student, assuring the victim that she remains a daughter of Ghana with the entire parent community standing behind her recovery and rights.
The NCPTAs reaffirmed that Ghanaian parents remain united on the matter, declaring their unwillingness to accept silence or impunity, and demanding a school system that is safe, dignified, and fully accountable to the children entrusted to its care.
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