Stephen Desu alleges widespread sexual misconduct in Ghanaian schools

Stephen Desu, a teacher at Ekumpoano Catholic Basic School, has raised an alarm over what he describes as a pervasive culture of sexual misconduct and transactional relationships within Ghana’s educational system. Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express, Desu claimed that almost every school in the country has at least one or two teachers involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with students. His comments come in the wake of the recent arrest and interdiction of the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), Zakaria Abdulai, following allegations of sexual abuse involving over 14 female students.

Desu detailed a disturbing trend where financial desperation drives female students to seek assistance from male teachers, which often leads to sexual exploitation. He noted that some students, burdened by financial hardships and inadequate provision of basic needs like food, seek money from teachers who then demand sex in return. He emphasized that the inherent power imbalance in the teacher-student relationship makes these interactions inherently coercive, even when students appear to initiate contact. Desu highlighted that this issue is not confined to senior high schools but is also prevalent at the primary and junior high school levels.

Adding another dimension to the allegations, Desu claimed that some teachers at the senior high school level actively compete with male students for the attention of female students. He alleged that teachers sometimes use their authority to punish male students who get too close to the girls the teachers are interested in. This competition, according to Desu, further degrades the educational environment and exposes systemic failures in protecting students from predatory behaviors by those in positions of trust.

Criticizing the Ghana Education Service (GES) for a perceived lack of forceful action, Desu called for more decisive measures against offenders and better protection for vulnerable students. He urged parents to be more vigilant regarding their children's welfare and financial needs to prevent them from falling prey to exploitation. Desu also encouraged former students to come forward and share their experiences of misconduct, suggesting that only a transparent accounting of past abuses can lead to meaningful reforms in the school system.