- Students at Bolgatanga Technical Institute rioted on August 15, 2025, resulting in acts of arson
- The principal of the Bolgatanga Technical Institute, Zachary Yorose, commented on the surprising nature of the riot to YEN.com.gh
- Some students accused the school of unfair treatment after the riots and voiced opposition to some regulations
The Bolgatanga Technical Institute has been closed following a riot by students.
The riot resulted in the burning of the school library and the Senior House Master’s office late on Friday, August 15, 2025.
Source: Getty Images
The principal of the school, Zachary Yorose, told YEN.com.gh he was surprised by the riots.
“The whole thing baffled me. The whole of the past three weeks… the school has been very peaceful.”
Yorose explained that the only previous interaction with the students occurred two weeks ago during a morning assembly, where they discussed a tragic incident at Bawku Senior High School, where an unknown assailant committed a crime that resulted in the death of a student.
He said he told the students that school authorities wanted to prevent similar occurrences and urged students to avoid wearing improper attire, which could hinder their ability to recognise potential threats.
According to him, five students had instigated the unrest by warning the school prefects against the enforcement of disciplinary measures related to dress code violations.
When the students were invited to the disciplinary committee, they did not deny their involvement, leading to their suspension.
Yorose said these measures were put in place to avoid incidents similar to those at Bawku Senior High and Nalerigu Senior High School and to ensure that any visitors to the campus could be easily identified.
Yorose had returned to the school from Navrongo on August 15, to learn that students had misbehaved the previous night.
Later that evening, despite interventions by teachers, students started agitating and destroyed a metre box, causing a power cut.
They then also set fire to the library and the senior housemaster’s office. The fire service was called in to respond to the situation.
Police were also called in to contain the students.
Some students, who spoke off the record due to fear of victimisation, claimed that the suspended students were unfairly treated and that the school authorities did not conduct a thorough investigation.
They accused the administration of collaborating with prefects to enforce rules against improper attire and scaling the school fence, stating that many students oppose the strict enforcement of these regulations.
Source: YEN.com.gh
Source: Yen.com.gh
