ACCRA ACADEMY INCIDENT: "We have lost character and conscience as a nation" - GNAT General Secretary

The General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Thomas Musah, has raised serious concerns about the erosion of discipline and moral values in Ghanaian schools following a shocking viral video of a student from Accra Academy Senior High School mercilessly flogging two of his peers with a cutlass.

The disturbing footage has sparked widespread public outrage, reigniting national debates on student discipline, character development, and the role of school authorities in maintaining order.

Speaking on an Accra-based television network, Mr. Musah lamented the apparent collapse of conscience and moral uprightness among students, warning that if urgent steps are not taken, Ghana could face dire social consequences.

“As a nation, character and conscience, we have lost it. We are now training people with knowledge, but for their character and conscience, we have lost it. If care is not taken, we will all be in trouble in the coming years. This is something that policymakers must take a serious look at,” he cautioned.

Mr. Musah attributed the growing indiscipline to the weakening of school authorities, particularly the diminished role of headteachers and teachers in enforcing discipline. He recalled an era when educators had the power to instill discipline and parents actively supported them in shaping students’ behavior.

"When I was in elementary school, the headteacher was so empowered that no student could misbehave in the school. Parents could even come into the schools and report their wards to the teachers. Teachers, at the time, were empowered," he recounted.

However, he noted that the situation has drastically changed, with teachers now rendered powerless in disciplinary matters.

"Today, teachers have been disabled. There are instances where when things happen at the school, the children will go and inform their parents, and they will come to the school and beat up the teacher. So, when things happen, the teachers cannot talk because when they do, either the students or the parents will come after you,” he revealed.

Mr. Musah called for a collective effort to restore discipline and moral values in schools, urging policymakers to re-empower headteachers and school administrators to enforce rules effectively.

“It looks like nobody cares, and we are saying that it is free for all. The earlier we come together and empower the headteachers and school administrators like it used to be, the better for all of us,” he emphasized.

The Accra Academy incident has intensified calls for stronger disciplinary measures in schools, with stakeholders urging the Ministry of Education to take decisive action to curb rising student misconduct.

As the debate rages on, many are left wondering whether Ghana’s education system is equipping students with not just academic knowledge but also the character and values needed to build a responsible society.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith