Norsaac, a leading Ghanaian NGO working in social protection, inclusive governance, quality education, health, and peace, has expressed serious concern following a reported sexual abuse case involving a 14-year-old student with autism at Bolgatanga Girls’ Senior High School (BOGISS) in Ghana’s Upper East Region.
According to reports, the alleged abuse was committed by two watchmen employed by the school. Police have arrested the two suspects.
The Upper East Regional Police Command identified the suspects as Adams Nyaaba Iddrisu (72) and Elvis Adongo (38), following a report by Media Without Borders. The suspects were arrested on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, within hours after the story was made public.The Regional Police Command stated that the suspects are in custody and are being processed for court.
They are expected to be arraigned on 3 September 2026 in Bolgatanga, the regional capital, to allow the police to continue investigations and gather more information about the case.Sources within the school alleged that the two security guards sexually abused the student multiple times at different locations on campus, including behind the dining hall and at the security duty post at the main gate.
Speaking exclusively on the Word Community Watch Show, Mrs. Mathilda Ayineboma Ayamga, Programmes Advisor of Norsaac, said she is worried that the victim who is a special needs learner was denied boarding status while the alleged perpetrators continued to walk free.
Mrs. Ayamga explained that after the student reported the sexual assault situation to school authorities in June 2026, she reportedly lost her boarding status. Meanwhile, the alleged watchmen remained unarrested at that time.
She added that it was only after media reports brought attention to the matter that the Ministry of Education intervened. She noted that the Hon. Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, directed the Ghana Education Service to investigate immediately and report without delay. She called for the victim to receive all necessary medical attention and counselling and for her boarding status to be reinstated immediately.
Mrs. Ayamga further stated that safeguarding should not be limited to documents or policy statements. She emphasized that safeguarding must be practical and embedded in everyday actions especially during recruitment and training.“Recruitment processes must take into account safeguarding.
Personnel must be guided by safeguarding principles. It is not enough for safeguards to exist on paper,” she said. “Safeguarding should guide everyday interactions with learners whether it is a driver, watchman, cleaner, teacher, or anyone in the training system.”She warned that schools should not rely on “paper safeguards” while failing to protect learners on the ground. She said the BOGISS case demonstrates that safeguarding must extend to effective oversight and accountability, not just policy compliance.
Mrs. Ayamga expressed gratitude to the media for reporting the case, adding that the attention brought by the report helped prompt duty bearers to step in and rescue the 14-year-old girl who had reportedly dared to report the abuse to school authorities.
Looking forward, she urged that stakeholders should not wait until another child is harmed. She said the focus should remain on child protection not on questioning the victim in ways that deepen trauma.
“For NORSAAC, this is a child protection issue. A child should not be subjected to repeated questioning or disciplinary action that can increase psychological harm especially when the child is a learner with special needs,” she said.
The Ministry assures the student’s family and the general public that justice will be served. It described the development as an act of indiscipline and reaffirmed its commitment to the safety, dignity, and rights of every child within Ghana’s education system.
Source: mywordfmonline.com /Gaspard Adongo Ayuureneeya.