Thomas Musah, General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), has voiced deep concerns over the decline of moral values and discipline in Ghanaian schools.
His remarks follow a viral video that captured a student from Accra Academy Senior High School flogging two of his peers with a cutlass, an incident that has sparked widespread outrage and renewed discussions about discipline and character development in the country’s education system.
Speaking on Channel One Newsroom on Sunday, February 2, Musah lamented the erosion of character and conscience in schools, warning of severe consequences if the issue is not urgently addressed.
“As a nation, we have lost character and conscience. We are now training people with knowledge, but their moral values and sense of responsibility are missing. If we don’t take action, we will all face the repercussions in the years to come. Policymakers must take this issue seriously,” he stated.
Musah attributed the decline in discipline to the weakening of authority within schools, particularly the diminished role of headteachers and teachers in enforcing order. He recalled a time when school leaders had the power to maintain discipline, and parents actively supported them in correcting students’ behavior.
“When I was in elementary school, the headteacher had so much authority that no student dared to misbehave. Parents would even report their children to teachers for discipline. Back then, teachers were empowered,” he said.
However, he noted that today’s teachers have been “disabled,” often facing backlash from students and even parents when they attempt to enforce discipline.
“Now, when something happens in school, students report to their parents, who then come to attack the teachers. This has left many teachers afraid to speak up or take action,” he explained.
Musah emphasized the need for a collective effort to restore discipline and moral values in schools. He urged policymakers to empower headteachers and school