Teen Caught with Firearm at Osei Kyeretwie SHS
A 16-year-old Form Two student at Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School (OKESS) in Kumasi was arrested on May 14, 2025, for possessing a locally made pistol, following a tip from female students to Headmaster Michael Mensah. The Tafo Pankrono Divisional Police Command detained the student after a classroom search uncovered the firearm hidden under his desk, as reported by Deputy Superintendent of Police Godwin Ahianyo.
Mensah, acting on a Ministry of Education directive to search student belongings, initially searched the dormitory on May 13 but found nothing, as the student was off-campus. A dawn classroom search on May 14 revealed the gun, leading to the student’s immediate handover to police. The student claimed the firearm belonged to his stepfather, Daniel Owusu Baafi, who was arrested on May 15. Both were granted police inquiry bail and must report back on May 19, 2025.
This incident follows a similar case at Adventist Senior High School, where a student, Suzy Pinamang, was shot in the eye by a classmate in April 2025, raising alarms about school safety and parental oversight. OKESS’s proactive use of student informants and searches reflects heightened vigilance, but questions remain: how do firearms reach students?
The police are investigating the firearm’s origin and the stepfather’s role, amid broader concerns about rising indiscipline in Ghanaian schools. The OKESS case underscores the need for stricter gun control and school security measures, as authorities work to prevent further incidents while ensuring students like the accused can write exams, as noted by Channel One News.