Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) is calling for an immediate independent review of a disciplinary decision against a 14-year-old student of Bolgatanga Girls Senior High School who was allegedly sexually abused by two security personnel on the school premises.
The education advocacy organisation said the student should not face disciplinary or educational consequences for alleged sexual conduct involving adults.
It is particularly concerned about the decision to withdraw her boarding status for one academic year.
The two security personnel have reportedly been arrested and are expected to appear before court on Thursday, August 20, 2026, to face criminal charges.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Eduwatch welcomed the arrests and commended the media for bringing the case to public attention while protecting the child’s identity.
“ A child who is sexually abused must not be punished for the abuse!” the organisation said.
Eduwatch said it would follow the court proceedings and broader investigations while respecting the rights of the accused and protecting the child’s identity, dignity and best interests.
According to the organisation, a July 20, 2026 letter from Bolgatanga Girls SHS described the student as “guilty of sexual misconduct” and withdrew her boarding status for one academic year.
Eduwatch said the letter indicated that dismissal would normally have been the prescribed punishment but was reduced because of the student’s medical condition.
Eduwatch said the decision requires urgent review, arguing that a 14-year-old allegedly abused by adults should be treated primarily as a child in need of protection.
“A 14-year-old allegedly sexually abused by adults must first and foremost be treated as a child requiring protection, not as a consenting participant in the conduct of adults,” it said.
The organisation said investigations should focus on how the alleged perpetrators gained access to the student, when the school first became aware of the allegations and what measures were taken to protect her and other students.
“The central safeguarding question must therefore be how adults entrusted with the security of students allegedly gained access to a minor for such conduct, and whether the school’s systems acted promptly to protect her once concerns became known,” it said.
Eduwatch also wants the Ghana Education Service (GES) to establish whether any delay in responding to the student’s first disclosure exposed her to further harm.
“If the child’s first disclosure preceded any subsequent alleged abuse, this would raise an extremely serious question about whether a failure to act promptly exposed her to further harm,” it said.
The organisation further raised concerns about the use of the student’s medical condition or disability in determining her punishment.
“A disability should trigger heightened safeguarding, reasonable accommodation and support, not merely a reduction in punishment from dismissal to deboardinisation.”
Eduwatch is demanding that the finding that the student was “guilty of sexual misconduct” and the withdrawal of her boarding status be reviewed and, if linked to the alleged abuse, set aside.
It is also calling for the student’s educational rights to be restored, a comprehensive safeguarding audit of the school, and immediate child-centred medical, psychosocial and educational support.
“When an adult sexually abuses a child, the system must pursue the adult and protect the child; it must never punish the child for being abused,” Eduwatch said.
