“Ghana: Secondary School Deaths Leave Parents Seeking Justice”: A Wake-Up Call on School Negligence and Duty of Care

A BBC Africa Documentary
Reporter: Anita Nkonge
Filmed by: Joshua Akinyemi and Gloria Achieng
Produced by: Maureen Nyukuri and Gloria Achieng
Executive Producers: Newton Ndebu and David Wafula

Over the past two years, six students have died in Ghana’s secondary boarding schools under circumstances their families insist could have been prevented. The BBC Africa documentary “Ghana: Secondary School Deaths Leave Parents Seeking Justice” sheds light on these tragedies and the systemic negligence that continues to endanger children in the care of educational institutions.

The film follows two families who have taken their children’s schools to court, alleging gross negligence and failure in duty of care. Among them is the case of 15-year-old Kevin Moses, a student of Achimota High School. In a landmark ruling, Ghana’s High Court held the school liable for negligence leading to his death, a ruling now under appeal.

Schools and the Duty of Care

At the heart of this documentary is the legal doctrine of in loco parentis: “in the place of a parent.” It places schools under a binding duty to act with the same care, attention, and diligence as a reasonable parent would. This responsibility extends beyond academics to include health, safety, emotional well-being, and timely medical response.

The documentary reveals, however, that in several boarding schools, this duty has been gravely neglected. Students who fell ill were left untreated or inadequately monitored. Medical facilities were ill-equipped, protocols were missing, and communication with parents was poor, creating fatal gaps in care.

Negligence, Oversight, and Accountability

Through interviews with grieving parents, legal experts, and school authorities, the film uncovers a troubling pattern: preventable deaths linked to weak safeguarding systems.
The recurring failures include:

• Absence of qualified medical staff in many boarding schools
• Inadequate emergency procedures
• Poor health monitoring and delayed interventions
• Lack of institutional accountability

These lapses, experts note, breach not only moral responsibility but also the legal standards governing schools’ duty of care toward students.

A Broader African Concern

While focused on Ghana, the documentary raises questions that resonate across Africa. Many schools, particularly boarding institutions, lack clear health and safeguarding frameworks despite being entrusted with full parental responsibility.

As education systems expand, safety and welfare structures must evolve alongside them. The tragedy of these deaths highlights the urgent need for enforceable child protection policies within educational institutions across the continent.

Conclusion

“Ghana: Secondary School Deaths Leave Parents Seeking Justice” is a powerful, evidence-based investigation into systemic negligence in African schools. It challenges educators, policymakers, and caregivers to remember that education without protection is a betrayal of trust. Schools must not only teach; they must protect.