A troubling storm seems to be brewing in one of Ghana’s prestigious Senior High Schools, Adisadel College, as there have been recent reports of bullying in the school.
Chilling accounts of seniors unleashing all forms of abuses on their subordinates or juniors in the name of ‘seniority’ now stand exposed, casting a chilling light on the silent suffering endured by students.
A brave parent has stepped forward to attest to this harrowing reality, sharing more heart-wrenching revelations that have shaken the very foundation of the revered educational institution.
In an interview with General Manager of Citi FM and Citi TV, who doubles as the host of the Citi Breakfast Show, Bernard Avle, the parent who spoke on anonymity, said
What was initially trivialised and regarded as a normal school culture, was later discovered to be a severe nightmare for most students, especially his son who is currently in his second year in school.
Mr Addo (nor his real name) said his son came home after his first vacation, lamenting bitterly over the situation.
“Initially, I laughed over it since I have been a student and I have been there before and I know that it’s part of school life but then, he came home during his second and he said they could not even sleep due to torment from their seniors who were completing school,” he said.
“They [seniors] use the hook of belts to flog them [juniors] and when they are coming, they come in a group like 8, 10, 20. So when they come, you can’t do anything and they will be beating you from any angle.
He also recounted an incident where his son was given 50 pesewas to buy 20 sachets of water.
“They gave my boy 50 pesewas to go and buy about 20 sachets for the seniors and he said I don’t have anything on me. How can I use 50 pesewas to buy 20 sachets of water? That was the only thing he told them. How they beat my boy. I was so mad and that is why I called the master,” he said.
He added that upon reaching out with a complaint to a teacher about the incidents, he was told that even the highest authorities cannot do anything about the situation.
So the teacher told me even the Senior House master when they are walking they walk with a cutlass. The House masters while walking on campus, some of them put some gadgets on them because they are scared of the students. Because they can be attacked,” he said.
This comes on the back of a trending video which made waves on social media in which a student from the Adisadel college, a renowned institution for nurturing young minds and shaping future leaders, is seen bullying another student.
Reports indicate that the incident was over a SIM which belonged to the recipient of the abuse, which had been seized by the abuser.
The Ghana Education Service and school authorities have taken up the matter and spelled out sanctions to both perpetrators and the recipient of the abuse, as well as the student who recorded the incident and others who were in the dormitory and refused to report the incident.
