By Godfred A. Polkuu
Gambaga (NER), March 17, GNA – The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), has engaged the Gambaga Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) over attacks on two students of the Gambaga College of Education in the North East Region.
Two final year students at the College on teaching practicum were shot; one died instantly, while the other sustained gunshot wounds and on admission at the Baptist Medical Centre in Nalerigu.
The victims, who were among eight final year students’ resident outside campus, were attacked by unknown gunmen at about 2300hours on March 12, 2025, while on their way from a Digital Satellite Television (DSTV) centre, where they watched a Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) match.
Professor Ahmed Abdulai Jinapor, Director-General (DG) of the GTEC, who briefed journalists after the meeting with the MUSEC, said the visit to the College was at the instance of the Minister for Education, Mr Haruna Iddrisu.
“We are very much refreshed by the assurances given by the security apparatus in dealing with this issue. In fact, the proposal they have given to us, even though we are not going to make known, I think we are very satisfied with it,” he said.
Prior to the meeting, Professor Jinapor and his team who visited the victim on treatment at the Medical Centre, said, “Fortunately, his condition, even though was critical, from what we observed, he is going to survive by the grace of God.
“We will be paying all the medical bills that comes with his healthcare, especially if they are not covered by Health Insurance,” the DG said, and added that the Principal,management of the College and the GTEC would support the deceased family in the burial process.
Professor Jinapor called on stakeholders involved in the positioning of the College as one of the most enviable Teacher Training Institutions in the country to be mindful of the image of the College.
He noted that the College had lots of infrastructural challenges, and indicated that although GTEC wanted to support, he cautioned that “When it is in the public domain where people are being shot, nobody would want to bring the child here”.
He admonished students at the College to be mindful of their utterances and not engage in any issues that would endanger their lives, “As students, your job is to study and be mindful of your movements”.
Mr Kassim Korah Nantomah, the Principal of the College, disclosed that the March 12, 2025 incident was not the first time students were shot outside campus by unidentified gunmen, and recalled that a similar incident occurred on February 14, 2025.
He said although management of the College collaborated with the Municipal Police Command to initiate security measures, “Little did we know that such an incident will occur again”.
The Gambaga Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent Francis Adjei Brobbey, said investigation into the incident was underway to arrest the perpetrators.
He said the Command would provide 24-hour security on campus and intensify patrols within the Municipality, especially at areas where final year students resided.
While on the visit with the DG and officials, the Ghana News Agency observed that the campus was calm with Police personnel stationed at the entrance, and residents in the Gambaga township going about their normal daily activities.
GNA
FAA/CA