The Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, has clarified that the recent violent clash at Zuarungu Senior High School, which led to its temporary closure, was not rooted in tribal tensions.
Speaking on Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey on Tuesday, July 22, Mr. Atanga explained that the incident was simply a dispute between students over a missing mobile phone.
Mr. Atanga emphasized that what appeared to be a tribal conflict was in fact a misunderstanding that snowballed into a larger confrontation due to peer involvement and rising tempers among the youth.
He said, “From the reports that I was given when I engaged the management with my REGSEC members. That in the Saturday night, one of the students from Nakpanduri area, which is the Northeast region, alleged to have stolen a mobile phone belonging to one student also from the Kusasi area. So after the detection, the one who was searching for his phone probably was going with his two friends. And then when they got him, they wanted to collect the phone from him.”
“And in the scuffle, he also had some friends who had two boys, then the whole case broke down in the fight. Where the other students are joining is the friends matter. It was not clearly anything associated with tribal lines. It was a matter of somebody stealing. And then he was moving with his friends. And then those who also detected that he was the one who stole the phone also was moving with friends. And then the class when the class, you know, the youth. So they also fell in lines and then they came down to their riot.”
On Monday, July 21, he ordered the immediate closure of Zuarungu SHS until further notice. The decision followed violent clashes on Sunday, July 20, reportedly between Frafra and Kusasi students.
The altercation resulted in the destruction of school property, including the burning of some structures, and caused widespread tension on campus.
Authorities are currently working to restore calm and investigate the incident further.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
