Haruna Iddrisu suspends Zakaria Abdulai over alleged sexual misconduct

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has directed the Ghana Education Service (GES) to immediately suspend Zakaria Abdulai, the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School, following allegations of sexual misconduct involving a female student. The Minister has instructed the GES Director-General to implement the suspension to allow for a thorough investigation into the matter without interference. The Ministry emphasized that the gravity of the allegations necessitates an immediate administrative response to ensure the safety and well-being of the students at the institution. The decision to suspend the headmaster was prompted by media reports and an investigative report by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni and JoyNews. Upon reviewing the details brought to light by these investigations, the Ministry of Education deemed it necessary to take swift action. Haruna Iddrisu stated that the conduct described in the reports is entirely unacceptable and violates the trust placed in educational leaders. The Ministry is working closely with the relevant bodies to ensure all facts are gathered while the administrative suspension remains in force. In addition to the internal measures taken by the Ghana Education Service, the Minister has formally requested the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to launch its own investigation into the incident. This request aims to determine any criminal liability and ensure that justice is served according to the law. The parallel investigations by both the GES and the police will be conducted concurrently to provide a comprehensive resolution to the case and address the concerns of the affected student and her family. The Ministry of Education has used this development to reaffirm its zero-tolerance policy on all forms of sexual misconduct and abuse within educational institutions. It reminded all teachers and school administrators of their professional and ethical duty to safeguard children and maintain a secure learning environment. The Ministry further noted that it will continue to support investigations that protect the integrity of the educational sector and will not hesitate to take maximum disciplinary action against anyone found guilty of such misconduct.