The Wa Technical Institute in the Upper West Region has been temporarily closed for one week following a violent student riot that erupted on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. The unrest, which began during prep time as students were returning from classes, led to significant destruction of school property and caused widespread trauma among the student body and staff.
The riot resulted in considerable damage to school infrastructure, including vital administration offices and several school buses. The Acting Regional Director of Ghana TVET and Principal of Wa Technical Institute, Saaka Adams, announced the closure, citing the need for students to recover psychologically from the traumatic incident and to ensure the safety of all parties.
“The school will remain closed for a week to allow students time to recover,” Adams stated, emphasizing that the temporary shutdown is a measure to restore calm and security before academic activities can resume.
Following the disturbance, Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, visited the campus on Saturday, November 22, to assess the damage. He expressed disappointment at the extent of the vandalism and assured the public that the government is committed to restoring effective teaching and learning at the institute.
To investigate the root causes of the disturbance and hold accountable those responsible, the Ministry of Education has swiftly established a special committee. Ministry officials have issued a firm warning, reiterating that acts of indiscipline leading to the destruction of public property will not be tolerated, and perpetrators will face the full consequences of the law.
The temporary closure serves as an opportunity for the administration and the investigation committee to work alongside local security agencies to implement necessary measures and security enhancements before students and staff return to campus.
