Gloria Ofori-Boadu calls Obuasi SHTS sexual abuse a first-degree felony

Gloria Ofori-Boadu, the President of FIDA Ghana, has classified the alleged sexual abuse of female students by the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS) as a first-degree felony. Speaking on the legal implications of the case, she argued that the gravity of the offence should preclude the possibility of bail, citing the inherent danger the accused poses to the community. Ofori-Boadu called for absolute transparency in the prosecution to ensure that justice is served for the victims involved.

The FIDA Ghana president also voiced criticism of the Ghana Education Service (GES) regarding its internal handling of sexual misconduct cases. She suggested that the current administrative approach to such reports is often insufficient and urged for a shift toward more rigorous accountability. To ensure the case remains on track, Ofori-Boadu encouraged media houses to monitor proceedings closely, noting that public scrutiny is essential to prevent any potential interference in the judicial process.

Adding to the calls for legal accountability, Felicity Nelson, Deputy CEO of the Ghana Tourism Development Company, has strongly advocated against the use of traditional community settlements in sexual abuse cases. Nelson emphasized that such allegations must be met with immediate police investigations rather than informal mediation. She argued that traditional interventions frequently allow alleged offenders to evade the formal justice system, which ultimately undermines the welfare of the survivors and the safety of the student population.

Both officials highlighted the broader societal impact of sexual abuse, referencing the long-term psychological consequences for adolescent victims. Nelson pointed to the alarming rates of sexual abuse among youth in Ghana as a reason to strengthen institutional safeguarding systems. The consensus from both the legal and tourism sectors is that robust law enforcement and the elimination of "out-of-court" settlements are necessary to protect students and deter future misconduct by individuals in positions of authority.