The suspects
Two security guards of the Bolgatanga Girls Senior High School (BOGISS) in the Upper East Region have been apprehended by the Ghana Police Service over the alleged sexual assault of a 14-year-old autistic student.
The Upper East Regional Police Command has identified the suspects as Adams Nyaaba Iddrisu, 72, and Elvis Adongo, 38. They were arrested on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, a few hours after Media Without Borders broke the story.
According to school sources, the two security guards allegedly abused the girl multiple times at different locations on campus. The alleged incidents occurred behind the school’s dining hall and at the security post at the main gate, which faces the highway linking Ghana to Burkina Faso.
Sources at the school told Media Without Borders that the first incident occurred in the last week of June 2026, shortly after supervised evening studies, known as prep, had ended. According to sources, the girl was returning to her dormitory when one of the guards allegedly lured her to an isolated area behind the dining hall with a promise of food and sexually abused her there. The watchmen were on night patrol at the time. A few days later, the second guard allegedly abused her at dawn inside the security post at the school’s main gate. The girl had reportedly gone to the post at that hour to pick up her tablet, which she had left with the watchman overnight to charge. Sources said each guard allegedly abused her a second time in early July, bringing the total number of alleged incidents to four.
The Regional Police Command said the suspects are in custody and are being processed for court. The headmistress, Gifty Ayamba, confirmed the matter had been reported to the Municipal and Regional Education Directorates and to the police.
A family member, Akolbulgo-Zotipelba Ayeo-Duko, also confirmed the incident, but accused the school of unfair treatment. The family described the victim’s condition as moderate autism and said staying in school is vital for her growth.