There comes a moment in every nation’s life when silence becomes complicity. Ghana has reached that moment.
The alleged sexual assault of a 16‑year‑old student by a French teacher at Labone Senior High School is not just another headline. It is not an unfortunate “incident.” It is not a matter for quiet administrative handling. It is a national disgrace, a moral failure, and a damning indictment of an education system that has repeatedly allowed predators to hide behind chalkboards and lesson notes.
According to information reported by Sankofaonline, the teacher, Mr. Godwin Adigbli, allegedly lured the student under the pretext of academic support and violated the trust placed in him as an educator. The student escaped and reported the ordeal. The teacher reportedly admitted wrongdoing when confronted by the headmaster—yet pleaded not guilty in court. The case now sits before the judiciary, adjourned to January 29, 2026.
But this editorial is not about one man.
It is about a system that keeps producing these stories.
How Many More?
How many more students must be harmed before Ghana confronts the rot?
How many more schools must be dragged into scandal before the Ghana Education Service wakes up?
How many more court cases must we track before someone in authority admits that this is not a series of isolated events but a pernicious culture that has taken root?
From KNUST SHS to the infamous “kitchen stool” case, from basic schools to elite institutions, the pattern is unmistakable. Teachers, trusted adults, guardians of knowledge are repeatedly implicated in acts that betray the very children they are paid to protect.
This is not a disciplinary lapse.
This is not a public relations problem.This is a child protection crisis.
The GES Cannot Continue to Issue Statements While Children Suffer
The Ghana Education Service has perfected the art of reacting without reforming.
A scandal breaks.
A press release follows.
A committee is formed.
And then , nothing changes.
Students return to classrooms where predators have operated for years.
Parents send their children to schools praying they return unharmed.
Teachers who speak up are intimidated.Victims are shamed into silence.
If the GES cannot guarantee the safety of children, then what exactly is its purpose?
Predators Thrive in Weak Systems
The alleged Labone SHS case exposes a painful truth: predators do not fear consequences in Ghanaian schools. They know investigations will drag. They know victims will be pressured. They know institutions will prioritize reputation over justice. They know the system is weak—and they exploit it.
A teacher who allegedly confessed internally but pleads not guilty in court is not the problem.
The problem is a system that allows such contradictions to flourish.
Enough. Ghana Must Draw a Line.
The GES must stop treating sexual misconduct as an unfortunate administrative matter. It is a crime. It is a violation of human dignity. It is an assault on the nation’s future.
The following reforms are not optional, they are overdue:
- Permanent National Ban for Offending Teachers
No transfers. No quiet dismissals. No second chances. A national registry must bar offenders from ever teaching again.
- Independent Child Protection Officers in Every School
Not teachers. Not administrators. Independent officers trained to receive complaints confidentially and act immediately.
- Mandatory Surveillance in High‑Risk Areas
Consultation rooms, offices, and isolated spaces must be monitored to prevent abuse of power.
- Immediate Suspension Pending Investigation
Accused teachers must be removed from classrooms the moment allegations arise.
- A National Student Safety Curriculum
Children must be taught their rights, how to report abuse, and where to seek help.
- Zero Tolerance for Institutional Cover‑Ups
Schools that hide or mishandle cases must face sanctions.
A Nation That Cannot Protect Its Children Has No Future
Ghana cannot continue to boast about education reforms while students are being harmed in the very institutions meant to shape their futures. We cannot celebrate academic excellence while ignoring moral collapse. We cannot demand discipline from students while tolerating predation from adults.
The alleged Labone SHS case is a mirror held up to the nation.
What we see is uncomfortable.
What we do next will define us.
The Ghana Education Service must act, not tomorrow, not after another scandal, not after another child is harmed. Now.
Sankofaonline will continue to monitor the court proceedings on January 29 and beyond. But the responsibility does not lie with journalists alone. It lies with every institution entrusted with the lives of Ghana’s children.
History will judge us by how fiercely we defend the vulnerable.
Right now, the verdict is not in our favor.
