General News of Thursday, 5 April 2018
Source: Myjoyonline.com
2018-04-05
Ejisuman Senior High School
A special investigating committee instituted by the Ghana Education Service (GES) in the Ashanti Region has found eight teachers of Ejisuman Girls Senior High School guilty of sexual misconduct.
This follows allegations by eight of the students about various sexual advancements made by their teachers toward them.
At least two of the students are known to have left the school to continue their education elsewhere to avoid being victimised while all eight teachers have been interdicted by the Ghana Education Service.
The teachers’ would be decided by the leadership of the GES in Accra.
Below are the narrations of all eight students when they appeared before the committee as well as the responses that were given by their teachers.
Girl 1 narration
Girl 1 is a day student of Form 3A6. She stays at Ejisu *** …A female student of Ejisuman Senior High School and eighteen (18 yrs) years old.
One day Mr. 2 waved me from Mr. 1’s (Tutor-Ejisuman SHS) car when they were passing. The next time the two tutors were passing whilst I was in my mother’s shop along the main road (in front of Spiritan University College), they called me and I attended to their call. Mr. 1 told me that, he has not seen me in the school before.
On that day, I was in my school uniform at my mum’s shopping place. He told me to look for him when I come to school, but I did not. Later, Mr. 1 sent a student to call me at the Library block. I went to the place to meet him and there he said ‘he liked me’ but I laughed over it.
Somewhere in December 2017, Mr. 1 called me and asked if I would agree to his proposal, but I disagreed (this conversation took place under the trees just after the school main entrance).
On one day, Mr. 1 took my friend Girl 2 (3A6) and I to a place to refresh us with lunch (Mr. 2 went with us). When we got to Hide Out Pub and Guest House, the place was not opened then we moved to Gina Pee’s Guest House (Ejisu-Onwe Road).
At the place, I followed Mr. 1 to a room and my friend, Girl 2 also followed Mr. 2 to another room. We spent 30mins – 1hour at the Guest House but no sexual intercourse happened, even though Mr. 1 asked for sex.
Teacher’s (Mr. 1) response
A friend called him from Accra that he should look for a lodging place for him. He said that, he was accompanied by Mr. 2 to Davean Hotel near Spiritan University College. He told the committee that, he did not like the place. He said that, his friend Mr. 2 told him to check another lodging place called Hide Out Pub and Guest House. On their way to the place, he said they saw these two female students of Ejisuman Senior High School (Girl 1and Girl 2) at Ejisu Town, precisely near Ejisu Round about. The two teachers asked these female students where they were going and what they were doing out of the school premises whilst Inter Houses Competition of the School was underway.
Mr. 1 informed the committee that, the two female students told him and his friend they were going to get some food to buy. Mr. 1 said, he did not believe the students so he and his friend asked them to get into their car. Mr. 1 also told the committee that they drove to Hide Out Pub and Guest House but it was not in operation at the time of their visit. They moved to Gina pee’s Guest House and it was in operation. They did their rooms checking and took some Malta Guinness. This according to Mr. 1 occurred for about 5 minutes. On returning to school, they dropped the two female students at some eating place near Ejisu Government Hospital called ‘Aponkye Akyi’. The female students were given GHc20.00 or GHC30.00 by the two male teachers and asked the students to be in school within 30 minutes He said to the committee that, Girl 1 followed him to a room whilst Girl 2 also followed Mr. 2 to another room. He also said that, there was no love proposal to Girl 2
Girl 2 narration (Age 18)
Mr. 2 proposed love to me when I was in Form Two (2) ie; Sept 2016. It all started when I was late to school and he gave his bag to me to be sent to the Visual Art studio. I was not beaten as a late comer by the teacher on duty that fateful day. Mr. 2 gave me his complimentary card for me to call him. From that day, he usually sent students to call me to the Visual Art Studio. Mr. 2 proposed love to me. Somewhere December 2017, Mr. 2 and I went to Hide Out Pub and Gina Pee’s Guest Houses. At Hide Out Pub, it was not opened whilst Gina Pee’s Guest House was in operation. Mr. 2 took me to one room at Gina Pee Guest House and Mr. 1 also took Girl 1 to another room. Mr. 2 asked for sex but I refused.
Teacher’s Response (Mr 2)
Mr. 2 was asked by the committee whether he knew a female student called Girl 2 He answered in the affirmative (yes as response). Girl 2 once joined him to look for accommodation for a teacher’s friend relative in December 2017 when there was school Inter Houses Competition underway. He told the committee that, a colleague teacher called Mr. 1 called him to accompany him to a place in search of a lodging place for some family friends who were coming from Accra.
He further told the committee that they went to a place called Davean Hotel near the Spiritan University College and the place was not convenient for his friend (Mr. 1). He suggested for his colleague teacher friend (Mr 1) that, they should move to Hide Out Pub and Guest House to check that place and they went.
Mr. 2 said on their way to Hide Out Pub and Guest House, they saw two female students just around the Ejisu Town Roundabout. The teachers asked them why they were not in School at that time. The two female students were ordered to join the two male teachers in their car.
He again said to the committee that when they reached Hide Out Pub and Guest House, the place was not opened. They turned to a place called Gina Pee’s Guest House (Ejisu-Onwi Road) to check that place. Mr. 2 said he asked the caretaker of the place whether rooms were available for his college teacher visiting friend.
Two bottles of Malta Guinness were bought for the two female students to drink. The Caretaker/Keeper of the Gina Pee’s House was asked to open two rooms for them to check/inspect the conditions of the rooms.
Mr. 2 said to the committee that, he and his colleague teacher went to the rooms with the girls ie; one accompanied him and the other female student also joined his colleague friend. The rooms condition checking did not take more than 5 minutes according to Mr. 2
Within the corridor, they spend about 15 minutes to take the drinks they bought. They drove them to some eating place at Ejisu called ‘Aponkye Akyi’ and asked them to spend no more than 30 minutes. The two female students were left alone to eat.
Different Set
Narration by Girl
Mr. 3 proposed to me last term. Mr. 3 came to our classroom during prep (evening studies) and saw me alone at that time in the classroom when there was lights out. He asked my name and class that I am.
I gave my name and class to Mr. 3 He sent a student to call me the next time and when I attended to his call, there he proposed love to me. I told him that I was not interested (said ‘No’ to his proposal) since he had a wife.
Mr. 3 proposed to me on two occasions. Mr. 3 also told me that my name is as beautiful just as I look.
Teacher’s response
Mr. 3 told the committee that, he is the person in charge of school power plant. He said to the committee that there was lights out in one of the classroom block. He went to fix the problem/fault and there he met the female student in the classroom where the fault came when she was studying.
He asked the name of the female student and she responded in affirmative (ie; gave her name and class she was). Mr. 3 also said that, he encouraged her to be serious in her academics.
Different set
Mr. 4 proposed to me when I was in Form 2. He called me to accompany him with his bag and see him off to his house when science and Maths Quiz rehearsal of our school was being done.
Mr. 4 told me that he would come to my house to take me out. Girl 4 said she told Mr. 4 that, her mother is very strict and tough (ie; very disciplinarian). Mr. 4 again told me to leave my house on weekends (ie Saturday and Sunday) to visit him but I refused.
Teacher’s response
I have not sent any student to call Girl 4 neither have I called her myself. Girl 4 came to the science Lab on her own accord/will. I have never proposed love to her but I have sent her to buy me rice and the two of us ate together. Girl 4 came to the science Lab to study and I offered a place at the back of the lab for her to use.
Different set
Girl’s narration
Last term of 2017/2018 Academic Year, when I was asked to go for my school fees, Mr. 5 asked me to join him since he was going to Passport Office in Kumasi. (around 10-11 am) On our way from Ejisu to Kumasi, Mr. 5 asked me to place my hand on his penis inside his pathfinder brand car. I refused but he took my hand and placed it on his penis when there was a traffic jam at Oduom. (along the way to Kumasi) On reaching Kumasi Sports Stadium (ie; precisely inside the stadium and in front of the VIP stair case) he brought out his penis again and asked me to rub but I refused at that moment.
He persisted and told me to do and even said to me; that everybody in the school is afraid of me and also that he has juju and this made me afraid and I obliged to his request. He again asked me to continue rubbing his penis until he discharged. He spat on my palm to rub his penis until he discharged.
After that incident, he took me to my residence at *** and even took my mother’s contact number from me and later called my mother. He gave me fifty Ghana Cedis (GHc50.00) that day. Mr. 5 once again called me to his apartment in the school.
He asked me to rub his penis and even brought some cream for me to rub his penis for him to discharge. I did exactly what he requested and she was again given money by the teacher.
Teacher’s response
I knew Girl 5 because I was sent to call her under the instructions of the Headmistress on the issue of school fees. The chairman of the committee asked me whether I had once picked her to Kumasi Sports Stadium and I answered in the affirmative. I have not played romance with her.
He said to the committee that, Girl 5 had once visited him in the house. Girl 5 has not rubbed my penis before but she has been given money by me out of generosity. Girl 5 was invited by me on the issue of how she was faring on campus and not to play romance.
Different set
Girl’s narration
Mr. 6 once told me when I was in Form One (1) that I was her daughter but not real because he loved me and often disturbed me with sex. I had several times refused his call to meet him in his house. When I was in Form Two (2) and in third term, Mr. 6 saw me with some male students at one of our classroom blocks, popularly known as ‘Tuabodom’. He came and drove the male student away.
I was asked to wait whilst he gave his file to me to hold. Mr. 6 kissed me. I was not happy about that. The next school day, I was called by Mr. Kwabena Amofa (Asst. HeadAcademics) that, a male student has reported a case of kissing to him. I narrated what happened to Mr. Amofa Kwabena (Asst. Head-Academics).
Teacher’s response
Mr. 6 told the committee that, once he saw Girl 6 with two male students at one Classroom Block called ‘Tuabodom’. He went there to urinate and saw these students. He then asked them to leave whiles classes were underway. He told the committee that, he sacked all the students and some ran to the bush
Different set
Girl’s narration
In Form 2 third term, I was going to pay my school fees. I was told after paying my fees that I should come and visit him. Later in the day, I was sent to bring cane from the staff common room and he met me and greeted me. Mr. 7 said to me that, I should collect his contact number so that I call him but I never responded.
Mr. 7 often disturbed me with come and meet me here and let us go out. Severally, Mr.7 used to harass me with this love proposal and I informed a friend who advised that, we should inform Nana Kofi Opoku-Nkosuohene, Ejisu Traditional Area to come to arrest the situation.
Mr. 7 called me to sneak out to meet him and this happened in December, 2017. Immediately I called my friend *** again and he asked me to come to Nana Nkosuohene’s House.
Since we wanted evidence to buttress my point of sexual harassment from Mr. 7 we planned together (ie; Nana Nkosuohene, * and *) to have a video recording of all the events in meeting the Accountant. From Nana Nkuohene’s House, Mr. 7 picked me with his car at Ejisu Zongo Junction (in front of Municipal Education Office) and I sat at the back seat with my mobile phone. In the car of the Accountant, I was chatting with Nana Nkosuohene and * at the same time.
Mr. 7 and I went to his house. He changed his car and took a wine colored vehicle. Mr. 7 took me to Hide Out Guest House and demanded sex. I refused and he brought me back (after attempting to fondle my breast). He asked me why I had treated him that way but I said it was nothing and even told him to send me back. Mr. 7 brought me to the Ejisu Post office.
Teacher’s response
I saw Girl 7 when she was coming to pay her examination registration fee. She had a problem with the payment of fees and I called her mother to come and which she did. I gave my phone number to Angelina’s mother and she often called me.
One time, I was called by Girl 7 to come at Ejisu Zongo Junction. I even went with a colleague Accountant called * but when we reached the place, I called several times but she did not pick the calls. Later she called and I rebuked her for behaving that way the other time.
In the evening, Angelina Owusu Prempeh called me again and told me that, as for this time, she would not behave naughty towards me. Once I was going to buy drugs for my brother In-Law and returning from Kwamo, I had a call at Ejisu Zongo Junction and this was from Girl 7
I turned at Ejisu Circuit Court Area and came back to Ejisu Zongo Junction (In front of Ejisu-Juaben Municipal Education Office) to pick Girl 7 I went to the house with the female student to pick my wife’s vehicle for maintenance.
Different set
Girl’s narration
I met Mr. 8 and a female student called * under some trees in the school premises. I greeted them and Mr. 8 asked me to wait and so I sat down. Mr. 8 asked of my name and class after * left. When I told him my name and class, he said if he had known me from Form 1 “anka wa to akye me” (I would have been a prey to him) and also said to me again, you are beautiful.
Mr. 8 was holding a bigger phone and a small one. He later gave me the smaller mobile phone and started chatting via text messages. He initiated the conversation by texting me a message on his small phone and then he handed the phone to me to reply. Text messages were deleted after reading and replying.
In one of the text messages, Mr. 8 said he loved me. I felt shy because he was my teacher and how he said it. I replied in my answer ‘NO’ to him. During school election day for Prefects, I met Mr. 8 around the Visual Art Studio. He asked me to come but I did not want to go.
Mr. 8 sent a student to call me later on. This time I responded by going to meet him and he was there with some teachers. Mr 8 asked me to sit down and he started his text messaging on the mobile phone.
Teacher’s response
I have discussed several issues with Girl 8 The issues discussed with her included social life, academics, relationship with the opposite sex and whether or not she was virgin. I have not demanded sex from her or proposed love to her but I have been calling her ‘my wife’. Sometimes Girl 8 and another come to me for some money for lunch (Food).
Different set
Girl’s narration
Girl 9 told the committee that, it was when she was in Form two (3rd Term) that Mr. 9 sent to call her and proposed love to her behind the school Form Three (3) classroom Block. Girl 9 said to the committee that she told Mr. 9 she was not interested and even told her brother who also reminded her of the advice and warning given to her at home.
Teacher’s response
I was teaching in Girl 9’s class in 2016/2017 academic year (3rd Term). I saw that she was not paying attention in the classroom and I passed some comments on her which embarrassed her. After the incident, I observed that, she was not of herself until I concluded the lesson.
I called Girl 9 right after the lesson in front of the parked school bus to ask her why she was in that mood after I passed those comments. On her way to where I stood. (parked school bus) I called her from a distance “Odo ye wu” and she replied to me, I am not and you disgraced me in class.
The next day after morning assembly, Girl 9 and a friend even came to me to apologize of what transpired the previous day in class.
Different set
Girl’s narration
Mr. 10 proposed love to me, when I was in Form Two (3rd Term). One day Mr. 10 sent a student to call me. Before sending a student to call me that day, he had previously asked me to take the place of his girlfriend who he claimed had left him, but I did not respond to his request.
Mr. 10 seized three (3) mobile phones belonging to students. On my part, I told him that, I had money on my mobile money account so he should please give me the chip and willingly released the phone chip to me. (ie; mobile phone not given to me) Mr. 10 used to insult me in class.
Note that Girl 10 left the school just after two weeks reporting in Form Three.
Teacher’s response
Mr. 10 told the Committee that, he taught Girl 10 in 2016/17 (3rd Term) so he knew her when he was asked whether he knew a female student called that name. Mr. 10 also said to the committee that, he had never proposed love to her and not sent any student to call her.
Mr. 10 again said that, once Girl 10 was not in class when he was distributing their marked examination papers but this was not true because a female student called * testified to the committee that Girl 10 was present and he even received her examination script.
Girl 10 Reappears
Mr. 3 proposed love to me when my mobile phone was once seized by Mr. 10 Mr. 3 told me to inform Mr. 10 that, I was his girlfriend for him to release the seized mobile phone to me, but I did not. Mr. 3 personally told Mr. 10 that, I was his girlfriend and he gave the mobile phone to Mr. 3 This happened on weekend and I was not in school.
Mr. 3 proposed love to me on phone and on campus. He even told me that, he admired my picture on the mobile phone and even collected my contact number. I informed some of my friends on the love proposed to me.
Teacher’s defense
Mr 3 told the committee that, Girl 10 informed him of her seized mobile phone by Mr 10 Mr 10 assured Girl 10 that, he would talk to Mr 10 to release the mobile phone. He went to Mr 10 but he remarked that the students used ‘money matters’ to come for their seized mobile phones.
Mr. 3 told the committee that, he informed Mr 10 that Girl 10 was his girlfriend and lo and behold Mr 10 released the seized phone to Mr. 3 Mr. 3 again told the committee that, he had never called Girl 10 before on phone.
Different set
Girl’s narration
My friend called * and I used to go to Mr. 3’s house to assist his wife who sells food on school campus. I told * that, I would not go to Mr. 3’s house again since he had started making sexual advancement and amorous approaches towards me. Mr. 3 proposed love to me and I gave no reply to his proposal. Teacher’s response
Mr 3 told the committee that, Girl 11 used to come with her friend to help his wife at home in cooking and washing utensils especially weekends (Saturdays and Sundays when she was a boarding student.) Mr 3 again said to the committee that, he had never touched any part of Girl 11’s body as she claimed.
Different set
Girl’s narration
In Form Two (3rd Term), Mr. 5 placed his hand directly to the position of my vagina and also gave me his mobile phone to watch pornographic video.
Teacher unavailable for comment.