OKESS student, stepfather face court over gun scare: bail set at GH¢80K

The Mamponteng District Court has granted a 16-year-old student from Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School (OKESS) bail after he was allegedly caught with a locally-made pistol on school premises.

Presiding Judge Natacha Abena Tuffour approved bail terms amounting to GH¢50,000 for the teenager and GH¢30,000 for his stepfather, who was implicated in the case following police investigations. Each accused is required to present two sureties. For the student, one must be a public servant or senior official earning at least GH¢4,000 per month, while the stepfather’s surety must earn no less than GH¢3,000.

The court has not yet taken their pleas.

According to prosecutors, the incident unfolded on May 14, 2025, when a school administrator spotted the student with the weapon and swiftly turned him over to the authorities. Investigations soon led to the arrest of the student’s stepfather, a local pastor.

Though initially released on police enquiry bail, both individuals have now been formally charged under Section 192 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), which prohibits the illegal possession of firearms.

During the court proceedings, police revealed that the stepfather denied ownership of the pistol. In his caution statement, he claimed it had belonged to his deceased uncle and was left behind in a room the student now occupies. He alleged that the boy may have discovered the weapon there.

The case has been adjourned to June 17, 2025.