Teachers at Kobedi AME Zion Primary and Junior High School in the Sunyani West Municipality of the Bono Region have abandoned classes indefinitely after rumours surrounding an alleged curse spread following the deaths of the school’s headmistress and another teacher.
The boycott, which reportedly began on Monday, May 18, 2026, has left classrooms empty and pupils without lessons, raising concerns among parents and residents in the Kobedi community near Chiraa.
According to reports by Crime Check News, the affected teachers include the school’s headmistress, Madam Gladys Dorlo Batinge, and another teacher whose deaths under reportedly unforeseen circumstances have triggered fear and tension within the school community.
School deserted as fear spreads among teachers
A visit to the school reportedly revealed locked classrooms and an empty compound during normal school hours, with neither teachers nor pupils present.
Residents say the situation has unsettled the entire community, particularly after rumours emerged that the deaths could be spiritually linked to an alleged curse invoked by a student.
Some community members, who spoke anonymously, claimed the alleged curse followed accusations of extortion levelled against school authorities. The rumours have since fuelled fear among staff members, with some reportedly unwilling to return to the school until traditional rites are performed or the alleged curse is revoked.
“We are reliably informed that teachers have resolved to boycott classes and register their displeasure about the present happenings in the school,” a resident reportedly told Crime Check News.
Another teacher at the school is also said to have confirmed that staff members had agreed not to resume teaching until they feel safe returning to the campus.
Pupils affected as academic work comes to a halt
The development has disrupted academic activities in the Kobedi community, with several pupils reportedly seen roaming around during school hours instead of being in class.
Parents and guardians are now worried about the impact the prolonged closure could have on academic work, especially as schools prepare for end-of-term activities and examinations.
The incident has also sparked wider conversations about fear, superstition and the influence of traditional beliefs within some communities in Ghana, particularly when unexplained deaths occur.
Authorities yet to respond officially
As of the time of filing this report, education authorities and local officials had not publicly commented on the reported deaths or the allegations surrounding the alleged curse.
It also remains unclear whether counselling, investigations or mediation efforts are being considered to calm tensions and restore teaching and learning at the school.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths of the two teachers have not been officially linked to any spiritual claims, and no formal evidence has been presented to support the rumours circulating within the community.
However, the fear generated by the allegations appears to have significantly affected both teachers and residents, leaving uncertainty hanging over the future of academic activities at the school.
