GES denies clearing Obuasi SHTS headmaster of sexual abuse charges

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has officially refuted claims that Abdulai Zakaria, the Headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), has been cleared of sexual abuse allegations. The service clarified that its Disciplinary Committee is still conducting investigations into the matter, contradicting earlier reports that suggested the headmaster had been exonerated. The GES maintains that the internal process is ongoing and no final decision has been reached regarding the administrator's standing.

The allegations involve the suspected sexual abuse of 19 students at the institution, a situation that has sparked significant public outcry. Mavis Hawa Koomson, the National Women’s Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has demanded decisive action, highlighting a failure in protecting the safety of children. Koomson criticized what she described as a lack of sufficient action and urged the Ghana Police Service and other relevant institutions to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the headmaster's conduct, regardless of political affiliations.

Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has also called on the GES to move beyond internal protocols and immediately involve the police in such cases. Awuni emphasized that prompt reporting and medical examinations are essential to preserving evidence, particularly in allegations of rape. He pointed out that the victims have reportedly faced neglect for over a year while trying to voice their concerns, and he urged the authorities to prioritize justice for the students over administrative delays.

The case has intensified calls for the establishment of more robust safeguarding systems within Ghanaian schools to prevent similar occurrences. As the GES Disciplinary Committee continues its work, civil society groups and political leaders are monitoring the situation closely, demanding that the criminal aspects of the case be handled by the police to ensure full accountability and justice for the affected students.