Tension and fear gripped the stands of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, after violence erupted during the Ashanti Regional Super Zonals.
Six students of Islamic Senior High School were arrested for allegedly throwing stones at their rivals from Kumasi High School during track and field events.
The competition, usually marked by spirited cheering and school pride, quickly descended into chaos as security officers intervened to prevent the situation from spiralling into a full riot.
Police officers, supported by plainclothes national security personnel, moved swiftly to restore calm. The arrested students are currently in custody, assisting with investigations.
Samuel Otto, Chief Coordinator and Public Relations Officer for the Ashanti Regional Sports Federation, confirmed the arrests and praised the heightened security presence.
“The police were more active. They arrested six Islamic SHS students who were stoning others, and in the course of that, the BNI people quickly rushed in, and the police arrested them,” he said.
Amid the confusion, some individuals reportedly attempted to steal from students who had left their belongings unattended. Several suspects were apprehended and transferred to the Asokwa Police Station for further action.
Despite the disturbances, organisers have reinforced security at the 40,000-capacity stadium, deploying more than 300 police officers and armoured vehicles to ensure safety for the remainder of the event.
The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools has condemned the incident and called for stricter measures to safeguard students and preserve the integrity of inter-school competitions.
