What was supposed to be an entertaining football competition between Suma Senior High School and Nafana  Presbyterian  Senior High School has turned into violent clash between these schools in the Bono Region.

The football match kicked off smoothly on 8th July, Friday, 2022 between the two schools without a glitch.

Penalty awarded to host, Suma Senior High School

After regulation time, the two sides hadn’t manage to clutch a goal. After some minutes, Suma Senior High School was awarded a penalty shootout which drew the ire of Nafana Presbyterian Senior High School.

The outcome of the penalty decision led to an exchange of stones between students of the two schools injuring many in the process. The unabating salvos from each side caused a stampede among students, teachers, drivers etc who sought cover for their safety.

Destruction of vehicles and properties

Students from both sides of the school smashed the windscreens and window screens of the opponent’s school bus. Some also deflated the tires of the buses rendering them useless.  

The host school, Suma Senior High which was awarded the penalty, also suffered some property damages.

A student of Suma Senior High School reportedly attacked

It’s difficult to predict what and when the riot started but many believe it all began when a student of Suma Senior High School was brazenly attacked and beaten by some violent students of Nafana SHS.

This triggered reprisal attacks from Suma Senior High School which set off a cascading effect leading to the all out war between students from the two schools. 

A Suma SHS teacher who spoke to GhanaWeb on condition of anonymity claimed that the attack was instigated by an attack on a student of Suma Senior High School by a student from Nafana SHS.

“The whole confusion started after the game between Suma and Nafana, which Suma won. It was a scary spectacle to behold as stones were flying here and there. A student was attacked leading to reprisal attacks but thankfully the situation has come back to normal now but properties have been destroyed,” claimed the teacher.

Reaction from organizers of the competition

The Zonal Organising Secretary, Henry Asante Appiah confirmed to GhanaWeb the riot. He assured the outlet that his outfit and stakeholders would hold a crunch meeting within the shortest possible time and release an official response to the unfortunate incident. 

“We are going to have a crunch meeting and after that, we will come out with a response.”, he said.