Old students of Bright Senior High School located at Kukurantumi in the Eastern Region have described as a “sheer grammatical construction” a statement by Akyem-Abuakwa Traditional Council calling for the closure of the school and called on the appropriate authorities to disregard it.

The Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council called for the closure of the school with immediate effect after officials of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) supervising the ongoing WASSCE examination were attacked by students of the school on Thursday, 6 August 2020 over strict invigilation.

A journalist with the state-owned Daily Graphic was also beaten by the students during the melee.

His phone and bag were taken away by the students who chased him on a motorbike and pummeled him even as he jumped onto a moving commercial bus to save his life.

The marauding students trashed phones belonging to the invigilators.

They were angry about strict supervision and social-distancing protocols in the exam hall.

The police had to intervene to calm nerves.

Reacting to the statement by the Akyem Abuakwa traditional council to close down the school, the old students also in a statement signed by their secretary, Edmund Doku Koranteng, dated Tuesday, 11 August 2020, said although they condemn the actions of the final year students the Akyem- Abuakwa Traditional Council cannot use the “unfortunate and really disturbing” incident as a perfect ground to justify their demand for the closure of Bright SHS.

The statement from the old students said “we condemn the act of students causing damage and assaults on West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) officials and a journalist.

“We say, such actions by the students were terribly demeaning and uncalled for. We are, therefore, using this as enough grounds to apologise to the general public especially, the Ghana Education Service and the West African Examination Council on the daft conducts of the students and with much assurance that, such a disturbing behaviour would not see the light again in the school.”

According to the Bright SHS old students, “It is for this reason, we want to make the point that, the Akyem- Abuakwa Traditional Council cannot use the unfortunate and really disturbing incident as a perfect ground to justify their demand for the closure of Bright SHS.

The old students stated that they “strongly disagree” with the traditional council when it says “it has become evident that 90 percent of graduands of Bright Senior High School drop out of public universities in their first year due to their inability to meet the intellectual and academic demands of tertiary institutions.”

The old students continued that: “This statement made by the Traditional Council has no evidential backings and we believe are mere accusations and expression of opinions. To put forth our stance, there is no justification for the statement made by the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council.”

It emphasised that: “Bright senior high school has graduands from various tertiary institutions in the country and across the world respectively. We the old students are in the most prestigious universities in and across the country, reading the toughest courses in these institutions and yet, we are all excelling. Talk of those studying in China, Russia, United States of America, just to mention, but a few.”

The old student further continued that: “We would want to also make it clear that, studying at the tertiary level is to a greater extent different compared, to the other levels of education. It’s factual that, students are not compelled nor mandated by any means to learn in the tertiary level hence the sole decision of the student to learn or not.”

Responding to the allegation that results from the school are “falsified”, the old students noted that the comment is also “a well-structured statement carefully constructed to throw hot dust into our eyes. The statement has no substantial documents to support it on the tangent it wants to go. If they would want to come hard on this statement again, then they would have to answer the question: how possibly could students from Bright SHS made it through the entrance examinations and interviews which certain courses in the tertiary level like medicine, nursing amongst others demand before admissions are granted? If their claims of ‘falsified results’ could stand unshakingly, then their answer must be unyieldingly solid to flaw our stance.”

“So again, we the Old Students of the reputable Bright senior high school want to make it clear to the general public that the statement made by Akyem-Abuakwa Traditional Council is a sheer grammatical construction, hence need not to be considered,” the statement added.

Below is the statement by the Akyem-Abuakwa Traditional Council

DEMAND FOR THE CLOSURE OF BRIGHT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

10th August, 2020

It is the well-considered opinion of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council to hold up to its responsibility in relation to the affairs of the Bright Senior High School situated at Kukurantumi in the Abuakwa North District of the Eastern Region. Particular emphasis is the conduct over the past decade of the proprietor of the school, a certain Bright Amponsah.

This statement is provoked by the incident of examination fraud of grave significance in direct relation to the assault of Mr. Gyan Mensah and Damolie Emmanuel Pacome, an official of the West African Examination Council and a reporter or the Daily Graphic respectively in their lawful duties to insist on a fair conduct of WASSCE examination.

The assault was instigated and ordered under the misdirection of Bright Amponsah, the proprietor of the rogue Bright Senior High School which for over a decade has been engaged in ultra-commercial and profiteering aims which runs against the established interest of the educational policy and integrity of public examination.

The above is not an isolated incident; it confirms several reports of corrupt and exploitative motive of Bright Senior High School.

Of more importance to this matter and of illustrative and evidential significance is his bribery of certain officers of the West African Examination Council over the past decade.

This situation is proven by the honesty of Mr. Gyan Mensah who decided not bow to the filthy temple of indecency and corruption.

The Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council takes this matter seriously.

I am directed to express publicly that the exams results from the rogue Bright SHS are falsified.

It has become evident that 90% of graduands of the Bright SHS drop out of public universities in their first year due to their lack of ability to meet the intellectual and academic demands of tertiary institutions.

The Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council is most concerned with the fact of the abuse and degradation of its young mind, and regrettably is unable to tolerate this situation.

The Council finds the liberal attitude of public authorities on this matter as radical deviation from responsible attitude in terms of enforcement of public policy.

Also to the above, it has been noted that Bright SHS in terms of admission process and curriculum is in violation of all the protocols and regulatory measures of the Ghana Education Service. This point is proven without doubt.

The Council directs its decision in relation as stated above to live up to its customary responsibility to defend the interest of the youth and ensure integrity in public life.

Further are reports of sexual abuse, which for the sake of lack of evidence I am not directed to relate.

Finally, I am instructed by the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council and on the august permission of His Majesty Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin on the following measures divorced from any compromise:

-The closure of the Bright Senior High School with immediate effect.

-The arrest of Bright Amponsah, the proprietor of Bright Senior High School and his immediate prosecution.

- On humanitarian grounds and fatherly consideration, the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council will assist in the rehabilitation of affected students; this is in consideration of their immediate and best interest.

Further, a thorough investigation of the operations of Bright SHS over the last decade with particular concern with its dealings with certain officers of the West African Examination Council WAEC.

Also, to be emphasized and insisted, a comprehensive auditing of the academic and social situation of Bright SHS by the GES and the police.

 ……………………. D.M. OFORI-ATTA STATE SECRETARY

THE HON. MINISTER FOR EDUCATION MINISTRIES ACCRA CC: The Director General. Ghana Education Service.

The Director General West African Examinations Council

Eastern Regional Police Commander Koforidua