An eight-year-old basic two boarding pupil of St. Olive’s School of Grammar, Dodowa, in the Shai-Osudoku District of the Greater Accra Region, has been left traumatized after allegedly suffering severe abuse at the hands of her school housemistress. The incident, according to the child’s family, occurred on November 11, 2025.The identity of the minor has been withheld for her safety.
Describing the violent incident to Channel One TV, the young pupil recounted the ordeal, alleging that the housemistress accused her of being a witch saying "The madam said everyone should call me a witch when I was sleeping. They took me to the dormitory and said no one should sleep by me. I agreed," She recount tearfully.
The housemistress further subjected her to inhumane treatment under the guise of treating a foot infection. “She forced me to put my leg in hot water. I refused, and she beat me. She used a big cane to whip me and told the older pupils to hold my legs and mouth. I was crying and begging her, saying, ‘Madam, please, it’s paining me,’ but she said I should leave it there.” She narrated.
The mother of the victim expressed shock and anger over the incident, stating that the housemistress failed to inform her about her daughter’s foot condition until it became critical and required hospitalization.
“On 11th November 2025, the housemistress called me while I was at work. She said my daughter had foot rot and that she had prepared hot water to treat it. She said the bucket accidentally spilled on her leg but claimed it was not serious and that my daughter had been taken to the hospital. She said she was only informing me,” the mother stated.
She later learned from her daughter that the foot rot was caused by poor hygiene practices enforced at the school. According to her, provisions she bought for her daughter, as stated in the school prospectus, were allegedly confiscated by the housemistress.
“My daughter told me that the provisions we brought were taken from them. They were given only one pair of socks and forced to wear it every day, even when it was wet. When she complained, she was sacked,” the mother explained.
She added that the constant use of wet socks led to sores under her daughter’s foot, which worsened over time.
“When her classmates noticed she was limping, they informed the madam. That same evening, the madam prepared hot water and forced her to put her leg in it,” she added.
The mother disclosed that doctors have indicated her daughter may require skin graft surgery due to extensive tissue damage.
“The doctors said the tissues were badly damaged. They had to do debridement and remove the dead flesh for weeks. On 27th November, they said the leg was ready for surgery, so she was taken to the theatre for skin grafting. They took skin from her thigh and transferred it to her leg,” she explained.
The alleged actions of the housemistress constitute a serious violation of the child’s rights. Calls are mounting for a thorough investigation and for the law to take its course to ensure justice for the victim.
The Shai-Osudoku District Police Command has confirmed an active investigation into the allegations, which constitute potential serious breaches of Ghana's Children’s Act. The identity of the victim is withheld for her protection and privacy. Management at St. Olive’s School of Grammar has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the incident or the status of the accused housemistress.
Credit: John Bodza
Source: ChannelOneNews