The Africa Health Promotion Organisation (AfricaHPO), in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service, has launched an initiative to combat bullying and promote mental health in Senior High Schools (SHSs).

Supported by Grand Challenges Canada, the programme was launched at the Northern School of Business SHS in Tamale and will be rolled out in 12 SHSs across the Northern, Bono East, Ashanti, Greater Accra, Volta, and Oti Regions.

The initiative adopts a holistic approach to addressing bullying and mental health challenges, emphasising empathy, peer advocacy, and decentralised mental health support. It will involve teachers, students, and non-teaching staff in building safe and supportive school environments.

Kisses Johnson Ahortor, Executive Director of AfricaHPO, said the programme sought to foster a culture of empathy and zero tolerance for bullying.

He noted that transforming some former bullies into peer educators and advocates would help shift attitudes and provide a safety net for students struggling with mental health issues.

He stressed the importance of sustainable interventions in school health, adding that empowering students to lead such initiatives was central to long-term success.

Jerry Kakeleife Abe, Programme Director of AfricaHPO, said the initiative was preventive rather than reactive and formed part of a wider global movement to prioritise youth mental health.

He explained that the model engaged perpetrators, victims, and bystanders in bullying situations to promote empathy, healing, and behavioural change.

Alhassan Issah Dokurugu, Headmaster of the Northern School of Business SHS, commended the intervention, noting that it would educate students on the importance of prioritising mental health.

He observed that peers often detected bullying incidents faster, making early mental health interventions key to effective learning.

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