Stop Busing Innocent School Pupils to Banda Constituency To Register- NDC cautions Odumaseman SHS headmaster And Npp Deputy Regional Secretary For Bono

Recent events at Odumaseman Senior High School (SHS) have shed light on concerning practices involving students and the electoral process, prompting the National Democratic Congress to issue a strong caution to the school’s headmaster and educators nationwide. The incident in question involved the busing of non-local students to enroll in the ongoing Electoral Commission limited registration exercise in Banda constituency, allegedly for political purposes.

Reports indicate that students, who were not indigenes of Banda constituency, were instructed by their headmaster to register in order to vote for a specific political candidate affiliated with the NPP. However, upon arrival at the registration center, they were denied registration following interrogations by vigilant Banda citizens, who were rightfully concerned about attempts to manipulate the electoral process.

It is deeply troubling that educational institutions are being implicated in partisan politics, compromising the integrity of the electoral system and undermining democratic principles. The NDC’s caution underscores the need for all school administrators to uphold neutrality, fairness, and legality in their roles, especially when it comes to matters as critical as voter registration.

It is shocking to note that, not only the headmaster is alleged to be involved to this illegality but a known crusader of the xenophobic attack in the Banda district sometime ago, who happens to be the deputy secretary for the NPP in the Bono Region, Mr. Ben Kai, has surprisingly led the campaign in leading foreigners and not just foreigners but innocent school pupils to engage in such acts of illegality just to heightened tensions in the constituency as alleged.

The actions attributed to the Odumaseman SHS headmaster raise serious ethical and legal questions. Using students as political pawns to influence election outcomes is unacceptable and violates the principles of electoral integrity. The sanctity of the electoral process must be preserved, free from undue interference or manipulation by any party or institution.

Education plays a vital role in shaping responsible citizenship and promoting democratic values. Schools should serve as impartial institutions that nurture critical thinking and civic engagement, rather than platforms for advancing partisan agendas.

Furthermore, the want to state without any ambiguity that, the said students bused in from Odumaseman Senior High through a Vehicle with registration number GT 5238- 15 were camped for three days without telling them where they being taken to the NPP Deputy Regional Secretary neither to talk of how their absence from school would affect their academic progress. We are therefore calling on all parents whose wards are at Odumaseman SHS to troop into the school campus to check on the whereabouts of their children. Also we ask the PTA management to advice the headmaster not the jeopardize with the welfare and academic growth of these innocent children in his quest to serve his political interest. We want to emphasize on the fact that this disgraceful and unmerited abuse of his office cannot happen at school like St. Louis Girls SHS, Wesley Girls High School, Prempeh College, Mfantsipim School and the likes. Therefore the headmaster MUST focus on how to improve the academic fortunes and performance of the school, rather than risking people’s innocent children life and future to serve his parochial interest.

The NDC’s call to halt such practices serves as a wake-up call for all educational leaders across the country. Engaging in acts of illegality and partisanship not only jeopardizes the credibility of educational institutions but also undermines the trust and confidence in our democratic institutions.

As we proceed with the ongoing exercise, it is imperative that all stakeholders – including educators, students, and community members – uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct and respect for the rule of law. Electoral integrity is a cornerstone of democracy, and we must safeguard it at all costs.

Signed
Charles Akowuah Tuffour
Bono Regional Communication Officer,
Bono Region