The Ashanti Regional Super Zonals, one of the most prestigious events on the Ghanaian secondary school sporting calendar, has been hit by a wave of violence and criminality.
Six students from Islamic Senior High School are currently in police custody after allegedly launching a stone-throwing attack on their rivals from Kumasi High School during the heat of competition at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
The arrests occurred on Wednesday, 25th February 2026, as security forces, bolstered by plainclothes officers from the national security, moved quickly to prevent a full-scale riot. The incident highlights a troubling trend of rowdyism that has plagued recent inter-school fixtures, where stadium seats were reportedly damaged in similar clashes just weeks prior.
The confrontation erupted during the track and field events, a period traditionally marked by intense school pride and vocal cheering. However, the atmosphere turned hostile when a group of Islamic SHS students reportedly began pelting the Kumasi High School contingent with stones.
Samuel Otto, the Chief Coordinator and Public Relations Officer for the Ashanti Regional Sports Federation, confirmed the arrests and noted that the presence of intelligence officers was instrumental in restoring order.
“As we said yesterday, the police were more active. They arrested six Islamic SHS students who were stoning others, and in the course of that, the BNI people got in and quickly rushed in, and the police arrested them,” Mr. Otto explained to Citi News.
Beyond the student violence, the stadium’s security network also intercepted several common criminals who attempted to exploit the chaos. While students were focused on the events, thieves reportedly targeted their personal belongings, leading to a second wave of arrests.
Those caught in the act of theft were processed and transferred to the Asokwa Police Station for detention and further investigation.
“Apart from that, those who came to the stadium to watch the event and tried to take away the belongings of the students – some of them were also arrested, and the police sent them to Asokwa police station,” Otto added.
Despite the disruptions, organisers are determined to see the competition through to its conclusion. Visibly enhanced security measures, including over 300 police officers and three armoured vehicles, remain stationed around the 40,000-capacity venue to deter further misconduct.
Mr. Otto expressed confidence that the reinforced security protocols would prevent a recurrence of the violence on the final day of the competition.
“Things went on well yesterday and we are expecting the same thing today and we hope to have a successful event,” he concluded.
The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) has since condemned the violence, calling for stiffer punishments to protect the integrity of educational institutions and the safety of the students.
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