Reintroduce corporal punishment to curb school indiscipline – Wamahinso Chief urges government – Nsemkeka
Amid growing concerns over rising student violence in Ghanaian schools, the Krontihene of Wamahinso Traditional Area, Nana Amoako Gyampa, has called on government to reintroduce corporal punishment in pre-tertiary institutions as a solution to the escalating indiscipline among students.
His appeal comes in the wake of multiple incidents reported within the first five months of 2025, involving students bringing dangerous weapons such as guns, machetes, knives, and catapults to school, and launching attacks on teachers and fellow pupils. These violent episodes have drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups, education-focused NGOs, religious organisations, and other stakeholders, who have described the trend as a national security threat.
Speaking at a durbar to climax the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) Week celebration at Gyamfi Kumanini Senior High/Technical School (GYASTECH) in Wamahinso on Friday, Nana Gyampa lamented the erosion of discipline in schools due to the ban on corporal punishment.
“In our time, teachers could cane or impose other forms of discipline, and this instilled fear and order among us,” the chief remarked. “We must stop blindly copying foreign practices. Child training systems in Africa are different from those in Europe.”
GYASTECH, a 34-year-old institution with an enrolment of 868 students, offers both grammar-based and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes.
Nana Gyampa believes the reinstatement of corporal punishment would deter students from engaging in violent acts and restore respect for authority in schools.
Echoing the chief’s sentiments, Stephen Tiah Adams, the Assistant Headmaster in charge of Administration at GYASTECH, described the level of indiscipline as “alarming,” revealing that some students physically assault teachers, spend weeks at home before returning to school, and leave boarding houses without permission.
“Teachers feel powerless. With the current emphasis on child rights and freedoms, we’re exposed and at risk. The safety of teachers is under threat,” Mr Tiah Adams warned, urging greater collaboration between parents, the Ghana Education Service, and traditional leaders to reverse the disturbing trend.
Also addressing the gathering, former student and mining contractor Samuel Aboagye encouraged students to take their studies seriously, highlighting the transformative role of TVET in national development.
He challenged the misconception that technical and vocational education is only for the less academically inclined, stating, “TVET is crucial for building a strong, self-reliant economy.”