Zakaria Abdulai suspended from Obuasi SHTS for alleged sexual misconduct

The Ministry of Education has ordered the immediate suspension of Zakaria Abdulai, the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), following allegations of sexual misconduct involving 19 female students. Minister of Education Haruna Iddrisu instructed the Ghana Education Service (GES) to carry out the suspension after an investigative documentary by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni brought the claims to light. The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has endorsed the move, with President Jacob Anaba emphasizing that the headmaster must remain out of office to ensure the integrity of the ongoing investigation.

However, the investigation faces significant challenges as reports emerge of intense pressure on the victims to withdraw their complaints. Police sources in Bekwai confirmed that one of the two primary complainants has already dropped her case. Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni alleged that influential figures in the Ashanti Region, including the Municipal Chief Executive for Obuasi East and certain traditional rulers, have attempted to suppress the allegations through private settlements. These claims of political interference have been echoed by NPP-affiliated groups, who demand a transparent probe regardless of the headmaster's alleged political ties.

Institutional responses to the scandal have been critical of the state's handling of the matter. Akosua Manu, an adviser on Gender and Social Protection, argued that the GES failed to implement immediate protective measures for the students. There are now calls for a thorough investigation into all schools where Abdulai previously worked to determine if similar incidents occurred. Meanwhile, David Ofori Acheampong, former General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers, has called for the resignation of the GES Director-General, citing a broader failure of leadership and accountability in safeguarding pupils.

Advocacy groups are leveraging the case to demand systemic reforms within the education sector. Professor Akosua Adarkwa, convener of the Network for Women’s Rights (NETRIGHT), condemned Abdulai for attempting to justify the alleged abuse by referencing a victim’s age and parental status. NETRIGHT is calling for the creation of an official offenders' register and the publication of annual reports on abuse cases to end the practice of simply transferring accused teachers between schools. Additionally, the Paediatric Society of Ghana and other stakeholders have urged the government to prioritize the medical and psychological welfare of the victims over political or administrative disputes.